Ofori-Atta's US Court Case: What Really Happened? Immigration Lawyer Clarifies

US-based immigration lawyer Jonelle Ocloo has clarified that the January 20, 2026, appearance of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta before a United States immigration court was not a deportation or extradition hearing, as widely reported but rather a bond redetermination hearing. Ofori-Atta, who was arrested and detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), appeared before the immigration court in a hearing that was streamed online. Despite the proceedings, he remains in detention. Explaining the nature of the court session in an interview on Joy News on January 20, 2026, Ocloo stressed that the hearing had been misunderstood by the public. According to her, Ofori-Atta’s legal team is seeking his release from detention while the immigration process continues. US Court adjourns Ken Ofori-Atta’s case to April “Okay, so first of all, to be clear, I know that you know it was stated that today was his deportation hearing but in fact, that that is not actually so what was happening, today was a redetermination of his bond hearing. “It is what I got. So essentially, his lawyers had previously requested for him to be released on bond. What his lawyers are trying to do is basically to get him out of detention. He is detained. I'm sure he is very uncomfortable in his current situation and they just want to get him out. “They want him to be able to, you know, return home for the rest of this process, instead of essentially being, you know, in detention, as you see him there, in his uniform, in the jumpsuit,” she said. The lawyer further clarified that the proceedings relate strictly to immigration matters and not criminal charges or extradition. “We are not getting into criminal issues or extradition…this is about immigration charges.” She explained that the next major stage in the case would be the master calendar hearing, during which the US government formally outlines the immigration violations being alleged. AM/SSM One year on: Watch what some Ghanaians are saying about ORAL Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians respond to Ofori-Atta's detention