A United States court has approved the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, the former Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, to Ghana. This ruling was issued by a US District Court in Nevada, confirming that all legal requirements for extradition have been met. The court stated that it has the authority to handle this case and jurisdiction over the former MASLOC CEO.
Additionally, the court established that the individual before it is the same person sought by Ghanaian authorities, and the documents submitted in support of the extradition request were found to be valid. The court also indicated that there is sufficient evidence suggesting that she committed the offenses for which Ghana is requesting her return. Following these findings, the court certified her extradition and ordered that she be held in the custody of the US Marshals Service while awaiting a final decision from the US Secretary of State.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was sentenced in Ghana in April 2024 to 10 years in prison with hard labour after being found guilty on several charges, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering. She left Ghana before the trial ended while on permission to travel abroad. Her possible return to Ghana is expected to allow authorities to enforce the court’s ruling in the case.
Background
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was in April 2024, sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after being 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 began in 2019, saw the state call six witnesses.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after she absconded while on permission from the court to seek medical treatment abroad. Daniel Axim, however, testified in person but did not call any witnesses.
Among the offences established by the court was the withdrawal of GH¢500,000 as a loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans Company, which the convicts later demanded to be refunded after the institution declined to agree to a 24 percent interest rate. Although evidence showed the amount was refunded, it was not reflected in the accounts of MASLOC.
The court also found that over GH¢1.7 million allocated for a sensitisation exercise was misappropriated. MASLOC was expected to pay GH¢20 each to 85,300 beneficiaries, but only GH¢1,300 was used for the intended purpose.
Additionally, only GH¢579,800 out of GH¢1.4 million meant for victims of the Kantamanso inferno was disbursed, with the remainder unlawfully appropriated.
Source: Abigail Arthur