Washington: The extradition case of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) CEO, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, has reached a crucial stage, with the final decision now in the hands of the United States Secretary of State. A US District Court in Nevada has certified Ghana's request for her extradition after determining there were sufficient legal grounds and probable cause related to her conviction on multiple financial crimes.
According to Ghana Web, the charges against Attionu include 25 counts of stealing, 20 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, and four counts of money laundering. Magistrate Judge Daniel J Albregts ruled in favor of certifying the extradition, citing violations of several sections of Ghana's Criminal Offences Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Attionu is currently in the custody of the United States Marshal, pending further decisions on her extradition and surrender by the Secretary of State.
Attionu was convicted in absentia by an Accra High Court in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for causing nearly GHS90 million in financial losses during her tenure as MASLOC CEO between 2013 and 2016. After being allowed to travel to the United States for medical treatment in 2021, she failed to return to Ghana, leading to her trial proceeding without her presence. Ghana's government formally initiated extradition proceedings in 2025, culminating in the US court's certification.
According to the US Department of State publication, the Secretary of State is responsible for determining whether to surrender a fugitive to a requesting country. In making this decision, the Secretary may consider several factors: legal compliance with the US-Ghana extradition treaty and US law, any humanitarian concerns including health or risks of mistreatment, international obligations such as compliance with treaties like the Convention Against Torture, and submissions from the fugitive, her counsel, or other interested parties.
The Office of the Legal Adviser for Law Enforcement and Intelligence (L/LEI) is tasked with receiving such submissions, which must generally be filed within 30 days of the court's certification. Sedina Tamakloe remains in the custody of the US Marshals Service as the Secretary of State reviews Ghana's request. The decision will ultimately determine whether she is surrendered to Ghana to serve her sentence for financial crimes that caused significant losses to the state.