A magistrate in the United States of America (US), Daniel J Albregts of the District of Nevada, has ordered the extradition of Christine Sedina Tamakloe, the former chief executive officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), to Ghana to serve her pending ten-year sentence.
In his decision, delivered on 9 April 2026, in the case entitled United States of America (plaintiff) vrs Sedina Christine Tamakloe (defendant) (classified Case No 2:25 mj-00861-DJA-1), Judge Albregts held that the evidence presented before his court was sufficient to warrant an order for the extradition of the defendant (Sedina Christine Tamakloe). The court order also indicated that the extradition hearing was held on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
“Therefore, pursuant to 18 USC $ 3184, the above findings, the Court certifies the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu aka Sedina Sharon Christine Acolaste [sic] to Ghana on the 25 counts of Stealing in violation of $ 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29);
“9 counts of Conspiracy to Steal in violation of $$ 23(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29); 20 counts of Wilfully Causing Financial Loss to the State in violation of $ 179A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29); 11 counts of Conspiracy to Wilfully Cause Financial Loss to the State in violation of $$ 23(1) and 179A(3)(a) of the Criminak Offences Act 1960 (Act 29);
“3 counts of Causing Loss to Public Property in violation of $ 2 of the Public Property Protection Act 1977 (SMCD 140); and 4 counts of Money Laundering in D violation of $ 1(1)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2008 (Act 749) and commits Attionu to the custody of the United States Marshal pending further decision on extradition and surrender by the Secretary of State pursuant to 18 USC $ 3186,” the order by Judge Albregts reads in part.
Previous detention
In a statement dated Thursday 15 January 2026 and signed by Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ghana’s ambassador to the US, Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Washington, DC announced that Sedina Tamakloe Attionu had been detained at the Nevada Detention Centre at the following address: 2190 East Mesquite Avenue, Pahrump, Nevada.
“My information is that she was detained by US Marshals on 6 January and has since been kept at the detention centre. I am reliably informed that, acting on an extradition request sent to the US authorities some time in July 2024, US Marshals arrested Mrs Tamakloe Attionu and placed her in detention to await her day in court,” Ambassador Victor Smith’s statement said.
Background
On 16 April 2024, an Accra high court sentenced the former chief executive officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to ten years in prison with hard labour.
Daniel Axim, a former chief operating officer of MASLOC, was also sentenced to five years in jail with hard labour.
On 14 January 2026 a five-member Supreme Court panel presided over by Justice Amadu Tanko, which also included Justices Samuel Asiedu, Senyo Dzamefe, Bright Mensah and Ackaah Boafo, granted Axim bail in the sum of GHC500,000 with two sureties.
Tamakloe Attionu and Axim were found guilty on 78 counts in total, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering and causing loss to public property, in contravention of public procurement law.
On 24 February 2023, the court granted the prosecution’s application to conduct the trial in the absence of Tamakloe Attionu, after the court had allowed her to travel to the United States in 2021 for medical attention but she failed to return.
With Ms Tamakloe’s co-convicted person on bail pending appeal, it is not clear how the John Mahama administration will treat her when she is finally extradited from the US to Ghana: whether she will serve her ten-year jail term or will be granted bail after filing an appeal, like Daniel Axim.
Brief facts
Sedina Tamakloe Attionu (the first accused) and Daniel Axim (the second accused, a former chief operations officer at MASLOC) faced court charges relating to allegations of stealing and causing financial loss to the state amounting to GHC93 million, among other offences.
Together, the two accused faced 78 charges, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
The two accused allegedly stole a total of GHC3,198,280 while at MASLOC and wilfully caused the state financial loss of GHC1,973,780.
Also while in charge of MASLOC, Tamakloe Attionu and her accomplice allegedly made unauthorised commitments, resulting in financial obligations for the government amounting to GHC61,735,832.50.
Further charges against the two include a loss of GHC22,158,118.85 to public property, improper payment of GHC273,743.66 and money laundering of GHC3,704,380, all while in charge of MASLOC.
Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra
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