A Magistrate judge in the United States of America (USA), Daniel J. Albregts of the District of Nevada, has ordered the extradition of Ms. Christine Sedina Tamakloe, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Center (MASLOC), and member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to Ghana to serve her pending 10-year sentence.
In his decision delivered on 9 April 2026 in the case entitled United States of America (plaintiff) vrs Sedina Christine Tamakloe (defendant), (Case No. 2:25 mj-00861-DJA-1, Judge Albregts held that the evidence presented before his court is sufficient to warrant an order for the extradition of the defendant (Christine Sedina Tamakloe).
“Therefore, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. $ 3184, the above findings, the Court certifies the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu aka Sedina Sharon Christine Acolaste 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 $$ 23(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); 20 counts of Willfully Causing Financial Loss to the State in violation of $ 179A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); 11 counts of Conspiracy to Willfully Cause Financial Loss to the State in violation of $$ 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 U.S.C. $ 3186,” the order of Judge Albregts read 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 Ms 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 center. I am reliably informed that, acting on an extradition request sent to the US authorities sometime 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. A five-member Supreme Court panel presided over by Justice Amadu Tango which also included Justices Samuel Asiedu, Senyo Dzamefe, Bright Mensah, Ackaah Boafo, on 14 January 2026, granted Daniel Axim bail in the sum of GHc500,000.00 with two sureties.
The two were found guilty on 78 counts, 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 Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu, after the court had allowed her to go 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 current Mahama administration will treat Ms Sedina Tamakloe when she is finally extradited to Ghana from the US. Will she serve her 10-year jail term or she will also be granted bail after filing an appeal like Daniel Axim.
Brief facts
Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu (the first accused) and Daniel Axim (the second accused, a former chief operations officer at MASLOC) face 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 face 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 a 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.
