The State has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision to suspend the criminal trial of former Buffer Stock CEO Hanan Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu.
Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, announced the appeal in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 22, 2026, saying it was filed on Wednesday, October 21.
The appeal follows the Court of Appeal’s decision on Monday, October 19, to halt proceedings at the High Court pending the determination of Hanan Aludiba’s challenge to alleged defects in the charge sheet.
Hanan Aludiba and his wife stand trial on multiple charges, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering.
The High Court dismissed Hanan’s application to strike out the charge sheet in July 2026. He subsequently appealed that decision and sought a stay of proceedings, which the Court of Appeal granted on October 19.
Dr Srem-Sai argued that a criminal trial should not be suspended simply because an accused person has raised objections to charges, particularly where those objections have already been dismissed as lacking merit.
“The law does not allow a criminal trial to be suspended simply because an Accused Person has complained about some of the charges on the charge sheet, more so when those complaints were dismissed as meritless,” he stated.
The Deputy Attorney-General said the state was challenging the suspension because of its implications for the prosecution of criminal cases.
The appeal seeks to overturn the Court of Appeal’s order. The Supreme Court has not announced a date to hear the matter.
The state’s appeal is the latest development in the procedural dispute over the charges and whether the High Court trial can proceed while Hanan’s appeal is pending.
