Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu Acquittal: Lawyer Hails Court of Appeal Ruling as Victory for Rule of Law

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu’s acquittal has been described by her lawyer, Enoch Deegbe, as a victory for the rule of law following the Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision to overturn the former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer’s conviction and 10-year prison sentence.

Speaking shortly after Thursday’s ruling, Mr Deegbe welcomed the judgment but cautioned against concluding until the court releases its full written decision.

The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday, July 30, acquitted and discharged Ms Tamakloe-Attionu after finding that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The ruling brings to an end a high-profile criminal case that attracted significant public and political attention.

Lawyer Commends Court of Appeal

Speaking to JoyNews after the ruling, Mr Deegbe thanked the three-member panel for what he described as a carefully considered judgment.

“First of all, let me seize the opportunity to thank My Lords for the erudite judgment they have given,” he said.

He confirmed that the court had indicated the written judgment would be ready later in the day.

“As you may already know, the judgment will be ready by the close of today. Sedinam, my client, is indeed acquitted and discharged,” he added.

Written Judgment Needed Before Full Analysis

Despite expressing satisfaction with the outcome, Mr Deegbe said he would not immediately discuss the legal reasoning behind the decision until he had studied the court’s written judgment.

He explained that doing so prematurely could misinform the public.

“I want to see the reasoning of My Lords—whether they agreed with me entirely or perhaps had other considerations—so that we do not misinform the public,” he stated.

According to him, once the certified judgment is available, his legal team will provide a detailed legal analysis of the decision.

Defence Argued Charge Sheet Was Defective

Mr Deegbe revealed that one of the central arguments presented by the defence was that the charge sheet against his client was fundamentally defective.

According to him, the alleged defects undermined the entire prosecution.

“The charge sheet which founded the allegations against her was defective and therefore could not have formed the basis of the entire process.”

He maintained that once the legal foundation of the prosecution collapsed, every subsequent proceeding became unsustainable.

However, he reiterated that the public should wait for the court’s written judgment before making conclusions about the exact legal basis for the acquittal.

Legal Team Begins Release Process

Following the Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu acquittal, Mr Deegbe disclosed that his legal team had already applied for a certified copy of the judgment to facilitate her release.

“We’ve just applied for the certified copy,” he said.

“We will take the necessary steps and bring the judgment to the attention of the Republic.”

When asked when his client could regain her freedom, the lawyer expressed hope that all administrative procedures would be completed promptly.

“From my end, I would wish that she were released immediately,” he noted.

“However, there are procedural steps that must be followed. We will ensure that everything required is done today and, as much as possible, we anticipate that she should be out before the end of the week.”

Client Never Lost Faith

Mr Deegbe also described Ms Tamakloe-Attionu as someone whose faith remained strong throughout the appeal process.

“In matters like this, she has always been prayerful. She is a person of faith,” he said.

He added that she remained convinced the Court of Appeal would eventually clear her name.

“She has always believed that once the Court of Appeal considered the matter, she would be set free.”

“Victory for the Rule of Law”

Describing the outcome as a significant legal milestone, Mr Deegbe said the ruling represented a triumph for justice.

“For us, this is a victory for the rule of law,” he declared.

He, however, refused to comment on the political implications of the case, insisting his responsibility was strictly legal.

“I am a lawyer, so I can only speak to issues of law. I am not a politician, so I cannot speak to politics.”

He urged journalists, lawyers and members of the public to obtain copies of the judgment, court proceedings and legal submissions before offering interpretations of the ruling.

“Anyone who wants to do a proper job should apply to the court, obtain our submissions and the proceedings, and they will appreciate our case much better,” he said.

“The law is the law.”

Source:myjoyonline