Lawyers representing Hanan Abdul-Wahab have announced plans to file contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General, and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), accusing them of deliberately breaching a High Court order by orchestrating their client’s arrest at the Accra International Airport despite the court having approved his travel.

The legal team also maintains that no valid court order freezing Abdul-Wahab’s bank accounts existed at the time of his arrest.

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 5, counsel for Abdul-Wahab, Godfred Yeboah Dame, described as “false” claims made by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Srem Sai in a Facebook post on July 4, 2026, which sought to justify the arrest.

According to the lawyers, the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, granted Abdul-Wahab permission on June 29 to travel to the United Kingdom from July 4 to July 12 for a scheduled medical appointment with his optician.

The statement noted that the application was approved after both the defence and prosecution, including Dr Srem Sai, presented their arguments. It added that the ruling was consistent with established judicial practice, which allows accused persons standing trial to travel abroad for medical treatment and other legitimate purposes.

Dame further argued that several prominent individuals facing criminal prosecution, including Dr Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and Dr Kwabena Duffuor, had previously been granted similar travel permissions.

The legal team also dismissed allegations that Abdul-Wahab attempted to withdraw funds from a frozen Republic Bank account before departing the country.

“We challenge him to produce evidence of a withdrawal of any sum by our client from any of his bank accounts since the date of the court order,” the statement said.

Dame insisted that no valid freezing order was in effect at the time.

According to the statement, any previous orders freezing Abdul-Wahab’s accounts ceased to have effect after the prosecution withdrew the earlier charges against him on May 5, 2026, resulting in his discharge.

The lawyers also cited a ruling by the High Court at Adentan on May 20, 2026, concerning fresh charges filed on May 15. They said the court held that Abdul-Wahab’s re-arrest marked “a fresh process,” indicating that no previous freezing order remained in force.

Mr Dame added that this legal position had already been communicated to the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in a formal letter delivered about two weeks ago.

The statement accused the Attorney-General’s Office of misleading the public and unlawfully directing the BNI to arrest Abdul-Wahab based on allegations the defence says are unsupported by evidence.

Describing the airport arrest as a “blatant and wilful violation” of a High Court order, Dame said the legal team would proceed with contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General, and the Director of the BNI.