Ghanaian social media personality Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, was taken back into custody on Monday, January 26, just hours after the High Court dismissed his application challenging his treatment at the Gbese District Court.
Abu Trica is wanted in connection with romance fraud allegations, prompting the United States to request his extradition from Ghana.
Originally, extradition proceedings involved Abu Trica and two other individuals before the Gbese District Court. The State later withdrew charges against the two co-accused.
Following this withdrawal, Abu Trica’s lawyers contended that the conspiracy charge against their client could no longer stand. The District Court agreed and discharged all three defendants.
Despite being cleared at the District Court, Abu Trica later approached the High Court with a certiorari application, seeking to overturn certain aspects of the lower court’s proceedings.
At the hearing, the Attorney-General’s office argued that the application was moot, pointing to the prior discontinuation of the prosecution and the discharge of Abu Trica.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, representing Abu Trica, countered that his client remained in detention despite the prosecution’s withdrawal. He described the situation as creating a “disconnect between the letter of the law and its practical effect.”
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai assured the court that if Abu Trica was still being held, immediate steps would be taken to secure his release.
The High Court ultimately struck out the certiorari application, ruling that the matter had become moot once the applicant had been discharged.
Soon after the court proceedings concluded, state authorities reportedly re-arrested Abu Trica.
