The Court of Appeal has ordered a halt to proceedings against former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) chief executive Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba while it considers his challenge to an earlier High Court decision.
A three-member panel ruled on Monday that exceptional circumstances had been demonstrated to justify suspending the trial at the High Court.
Hanan’s lawyers, led by Godfred Yeboah Dame, had asked the Court of Appeal to stay the proceedings until the determination of their appeal.
The appeal follows a High Court ruling in July, when the court rejected Hanan’s application to have the charges against him dismissed. His application was based on an argument that the charge sheet was defective.
The High Court, however, concluded that the document contained sufficient information to allow the defence to prepare its case.
Hanan’s legal team subsequently challenged that decision and sought an order preventing the trial from continuing while the appeal was being considered.
The Court of Appeal has now granted that application, bringing the High Court proceedings to a temporary halt pending the outcome of the appeal.