The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine has revealed that his office has successfully transmitted an extradition request to the Authorities in US to get Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta extradited to Ghana.
Addressing the media as part of Government Accountability series on Thursday, the Attorney-General stressed that with this latest steps taken, what is now left is the US Judicial system to act based on the merit of the request.
He however emphasized that the request would go through court proceedings in US before he is extradited.
“Usually the extradition case takes place in the court of competent jurisdiction in our case that is the district Court in the US it will also be the federal district court. Mind you the person who is subject matter of extradition will fight it in court
So the American Authorities won’t just take my request and say here you are her3 is Ken Ofori Atta and his accomplice, you take them so that they can face trial ”, Dr. AYine explained.
The Atrorney General later revealed that Ken Ofori-Atta has hired some top US Lawyers to defend him stressing however that “but I’m not afraid at all”.
“I just got to know yesterday that he has some of the top US Lawyers, very experienced lawyers to defend him but I’m not afraid at all, alright I’m not afraid at all. It means that there is going to be a fight in the federal courts in US, if the district court says no, you go to the circuit court, if the circuit court says no he is entitled to go to the US Supreme Court to fight his case.
So I can not tell you that he will come tomorrow or he will come the next day. I’m just being honest accounting to the people means being explicit and truthful so this is what we are faced with but on behalf of government of his Excellency John Dramani Mahama we have taken requisite steps to bring him to Ghana to face trial and if I were him this is home he should just join the next flight and come here”, he added.
Ken Ofori Atta and his accomplice Ernest Darko Akure who are facing 78 charges including causing financial loss to the state and using public office for private are expected into the country to face prosecution.
The Attorney-General later assured Ken Ofori Atta of fair trial should he be extradited.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
