The Accra High Court has fixed July 15, 2026, for the commencement of the trial of Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni.

The date was set after the Court and both parties concluded the Case Management Conference (CMC), clearing the way for substantive proceedings to begin.

As part of its directions, the Court ordered the State to release all electronic devices belonging to the accused persons within 14 days.

The order followed an application by counsel for Faiza Seidu Wuni, Augustine Obuor, who argued that the prosecution had completed the CMC without referencing electronic gadgets seized from his client, including mobile phones and laptops. He therefore urged the Court to order their release.

Counsel for Aludiba, Godfred Yeboah Dame, a former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, also informed the Court that his client’s mobile phones and laptops remained in State custody and similarly requested their return.

Responding to the applications, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai did not oppose the request but explained that the devices were yet to be released by the Forensic Laboratory. He added that, even in the absence of a specific court order, the items would be returned to the accused persons in due course.

Earlier, Dame told the Court that he had filed a request on June 11, 2026, seeking access to 69 documents in the possession of the prosecution. He argued that the documents were necessary to adequately prepare the defence ahead of trial.

The two accused persons face 20 charges, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office, wilfully causing financial loss to the State, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. The prosecution alleges that they stole GH¢78 million belonging to the State.

However, both Aludiba and his wife have denied all charges and remain on bail pending trial.

Background to the case indicates that the accused persons, together with companies linked to them, had been standing trial over allegations of causing financial loss to the State amounting to GH¢78 million. Proceedings had been ongoing, with both prosecution and defence engaged in legal arguments over procedural matters.

At the previous sitting, Principal State Attorney Esi Dentah Yankah informed the Court that the prosecution had filed two witness statements on April 24, 2026, but sought to substitute them with earlier statements dated December 18, 2025.