Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, has defended the rearrest of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, insisting that the actions taken by his outfit were lawful and procedurally justified.
Speaking on Joy News on Saturday, May 9, Mr Archer rejected suggestions that EOCO acted improperly in the handling of the case.
According to him, EOCO exercised restraint and fairness throughout the process despite tensions surrounding the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
“The first case was withdrawn and they were under arrest, and we could have held them for 48 hours, and we held them for less than 48 hours. We did not breach any process in holding them. We were rather magnanimous in staying late till 9 pm to ensure that due process would go on,” he stated.
Archer further disclosed that one of the major challenges EOCO faced during the process was what he described as attempts by some individuals to demand special treatment for the accused persons because of their political and legal connections.
“The only problem I had with this issue was that when they [the lawyers for Hanan] came, they wanted everything to stop and listen to Hanan because they thought a red carpet had to be laid for the former Attorney General, and I don’t tolerate that kind of mindset,” he added.
The comments come amid growing public debate surrounding the rearrest of Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba after all criminal charges against him and four others were withdrawn on Tuesday, May 5.
EOCO initially arrested Hanan and his wife, Faiza Wuni, in June 2025 over allegations of financial misconduct linked to their tenure and activities associated with the National Food Buffer Stock Company.
Following investigations, the Attorney General formally filed criminal charges against the accused persons in October 2025.
However, on Tuesday, May 5, the Attorney General withdrew all charges against Hanan, his wife Faiza Wuni, and three other accused persons.
Despite the withdrawal of the charges, Hanan was rearrested shortly afterward.
Raymond Archer, however, has maintained that EOCO acted within the bounds of the law and followed the necessary legal procedures in handling the matter.
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