A United States District Court in Nevada has approved the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, former chief executive officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), to Ghana to serve a 10-year sentence.
The court determined it has jurisdiction over the extradition case and the accused, confirming the validity and enforceability of the extradition treaty between the United States and Ghana.
Furthermore, it verified the identity of the individual as the same person sought by Ghanaian authorities and validated the proper certification of documents submitted in support of the request.
The court also established probable cause, believing that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu committed the offences for which extradition is sought.
Consequently, the court certified her extradition to Ghana and ordered her detention by the United States Marshals Service pending a final decision on her surrender by the U.S. Secretary of State.
In April 2024, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in Ghana and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for multiple charges, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy, money laundering, and procurement breaches.
She had fled Ghana before the conclusion of her trial while on medical travel permission, according to court records.
She was found guilty on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
Her co-accused, former MASLOC Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim, was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The two were prosecuted for offences committed between 2013 and 2016, involving the misappropriation of funds meant for MASLOC activities.
The trial, which started in 2019, involved six state witnesses testifying against Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and Daniel Axim for various offences.
Key findings included misappropriation of funds, including GH¢500,000 loaned to Obaatampa Savings and Loans; GH¢1.7 million meant for sensitisation exercises; and GH¢1.4 million for Kantamanso inferno victims.
The court also found inflated procurement costs for vehicles and Samsung phones.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
