The High Court in Accra has again granted a week-long grace period to former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC), Alex Mould and Gavivina Tamakloe, to produce Mrs Sedinam Attionu Tamakloe.

Today’s (Tuesday, January 17) adjournment was to allow lawyers of the accused and sureties to authenticate a document they have on the accused which the court is not authentic because it was not notarized.

The Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe while wondering the legal effect of the document asked “how does this solve a legal purpose?”

The court said the document in its current form does not work for it to be part of a record as to whether the recognizance has been forfeited.

Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for the accused (Sedinam Tamakloe) and Dr Aziz Basit Bamba for second surety prayed for an adjournment but the prosecution led by Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney opposed to the request and questioned its authenticity.

Justice Asare-Botwe, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal after listening to the parties adjourned the case to January 24 for the lawyers to authenticate the document.

According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, Mrs Tamakloe Ationu has been absent from court for the last two legal year since 2021.

The two sureties who executed the GHc5M bail conditions for former CEO of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) were first ordered to produce the accused on December 22, 2022.

The Financial and Economic Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, now elevated to the Court of Appeal who held that the former MASLOC boss has “absconded,” extended the period to January 17.

But in court on Tuesday, January 17, the parties were given a week more period.

At the last court sitting on December 22, Lawyer for the first surety Lawyer Beatrice Annan-Fio, for Gavivina Tamakloe said “We have exhausted every effort within our means but we have not been able to produce the first accused person.”

She, therefore, prayed the court to allow them more time to be able to produce the accused who is said to have undergone some medical procedure.

Lawyer Dr Abdul Basit Bamba and Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for Alex Mould and Accused respectively added their voices for more time.

Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who was one of 15 newly sworn-in Justices of the Court of Appeal by the President, said “I will give you time.”

While making a biblical allusion she said the Bible calls for fulfilment of righteousness and that “I can only give you time after the Christmas.”

The newly promoted Justice of the Court of Appeal said “You have until the holidays are over to produce the accused or provide a compelling evidence why you need more time to produce accused.”

Daniel Axim, the second accused person was present in court.

Forfeiture of sureties

The accused person has for the past year (October 2021) failed to appear in court for the trial to progress after she was given permission by the court to travel out of the country for a medical examination.

Ruling on an application for forfeiture of recognisance of sureties filed by the Attorney General’s department, Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe said, it is clear that the accused is no longer reasonably missing the trial for medical reasons.

The court said the sureties have since stopped bringing any medical letters to the court on the accused person.

Justice Asare-Botwe said the accused person had breached the terms of her bond and a liability accrues on the sureties.

Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, said, Forfeiture of bail bond becomes effective the moment the accused person jumps bail and the surety is unable to produce him or her.

The court said, it has drawn the conclusion that Mrs Attionu Tamakloe who is standing trial with one another has absconded as she has not shown up at the time she was supposed to.

The court also said, “the authorities have also made it clear that, if this happens you should give the sureties time to produce the accused person.”

Consequently, the court said, “I have given the sureties on or before 22 December, 2022, to produce the accused person.”

Trial in absentia

The court is expected to consider the application for trial in absentia if the accused failed to show up.

Arguments

Moving the application for Forfeiture of recognizance of the sureties, Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney argues that the Ex MASLOC Boss having failed to return for the trial after being given leave to travel simply means that she has abandoned.

The lawyer for Gavivina said the application for the release of the passport to the accused person was not sent to him and he had no idea.

He added that the State did not oppose the application so he cannot be held responsible for her absence and that, the State has all the apparatuses to ensure the accused attends court.

The lawyer for Alex Mould, Dr Abdul Aziz Bamba argued that the State should take action to extradite the accused to come down and face trial.

He added that he is informed the accused is unwell and is seeking medical assistance in the States.

He argued that the Supreme Court has ruled that the court cannot commit a surety to prison and that, the execution of bail bond is a contract and one cannot put one in prison for failing to fulfil a contract.

Background

Sedina Attionu is on trial with Daniel Axim, a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, on 78 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, stealing, and contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.

The two have denied any wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution has accused Mrs Attionu of engaging in some illegalities leading to the alleged stealing and financial loss.

For instance, it has accused Mrs Attionu of embezzling GH¢500,000 that was paid by a company which benefitted from MASLOC support in 2014.

It is also the case of the prosecution that in 2013 following a fire disaster at the Kantamanto Market, then-President John Mahama directed MASLOC to provide assistance of GH¢1.46 million to victims of the disaster but Mrs Attionu embezzled part of the money.