The attempt to halt the extradition of Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, has hit a dead end at the Gbese District Court, clearing a key obstacle in the push to send him to the United States.
On Wednesday, the court rejected a preliminary objection raised by Mr. Kumi’s lawyers, who had challenged the legal foundation of the extradition request under the long-standing agreement between Ghana and the U.S.
With that objection struck out, the case now moves forward, keeping the extradition process firmly on track.
American authorities are seeking Mr. Kumi in connection with allegations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, part of a wider international effort targeting cross-border financial crime.
Since the case began, his legal team, led by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has pressed hard against the proceedings.
Their argument centered on the Ghana-U.S. Extradition Treaty of 1931.
They contended that the specific offenses cited by the United States, wire fraud and money laundering, are not explicitly listed as extraditable offenses within that treaty.
Counsel further argued that Ghana could not unilaterally expand the scope of the decades-old treaty by invoking more recent domestic legislation.
They also maintained that the treaty’s provisions regarding conspiracy charges were not applicable to the allegations against their client.
The court, however, was not persuaded, according to a report.
In dismissing the objection, the presiding judge found that the extradition request rests on a valid legal basis, allowing the state to continue its case against Kumi.
