The legal battle surrounding Ghanaian businessman and socialite Abu Trica has taken a fresh turn after his lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, claimed he had received information that his client had been taken to the Police Hospital.
Barker-Vormawor disclosed the development in a social media post, expressing concern over Abu Trica’s condition while questioning the circumstances surrounding his continued detention following his rearrest.
“I have just found out from sources at the Police Hospital that Abu Trica has been rushed to the hospital,” the lawyer wrote.
The latest claim comes days after Abu Trica was taken into custody again after appearing in court, following a High Court decision that rejected his challenge against an extradition order.
The ruling cleared the way for Ghanaian authorities to continue proceedings to extradite him to the United States, where he is wanted over allegations linking him to an alleged US$8 million romance scam involving elderly victims.
However, since his rearrest, Barker-Vormawor says the legal team has been unable to meet with their client, raising concerns about his access to legal representation.
“It has been over a week; we haven’t been allowed access to Abu Trica as lawyers, and our request for him to meet with us as his lawyers has not been granted,” he stated.
The lawyer said the uncertainty surrounding Abu Trica’s whereabouts has intensified the concerns of his legal team, adding that they have not been informed about where he is currently being held.
According to Barker-Vormawor, Interpol Ghana, which initially took custody of Abu Trica after his arrest, has indicated that the businessman is no longer in its possession.
“In fact, we have no idea where he is being held, and Interpol, which first had custody of him, says they don’t have him,” Barker-Vormawor added.
The lawyer warned that the legal team would take further action if authorities continued to prevent them from accessing their client.
He said they are prepared to file a habeas corpus application to compel the state to present Abu Trica before a court and justify the basis of his detention.
“We will be filing a habeas corpus application by tomorrow if the Republic continues to deny him something as basic as his right to counsel,” he said.
Barker-Vormawor also criticised the state’s handling of the matter, arguing that the rights of Ghanaian citizens should not be compromised in the process of cooperating with foreign law enforcement agencies.
“Let’s keep treating our citizens as animals to please the FBI. We are doing well. Today, it’s a supposed ‘fraud boy’. Tomorrow it will be a politician,” he wrote.
The controversy comes as authorities continue efforts linked to Abu Trica’s extradition case, which has attracted public attention due to the serious allegations levelled against him and the ongoing legal dispute over his detention.
