Ghanaian socialite, Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been extradited to the United States to face charges over an alleged $8 million romance fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly Americans.
According to official sources, Mr Kumi was flown to the United States yesterday after months of legal proceedings arising from an extradition request by the US authorities.
He is accused of being part of a transnational criminal network that allegedly used fake online identities, including artificial intelligence-generated profiles, to establish romantic relationships with victims and induce them to transfer money under false pretences.
He is expected to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Mr Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, following a joint operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after American authorities requested his extradition.
Although he was granted bail in the sum of GH¢30 million with two justified sureties, his legal team challenged the extradition proceedings in the Ghanaian courts.
The legal challenge suffered a setback last week when the Accra High Court dismissed an application seeking to overturn an earlier decision of the Gbese District Court granting the Attorney-General’s request for his extradition. He was subsequently rearrested to facilitate his transfer to the United States.
Following the ruling, his lawyer, Oliver Barker Vormawor, stated in a Facebook post that he had been away on official duties when he learnt that the matter had been expedited and the court had ordered his client’s extradition.
The defence later filed an emergency application for a stay of execution, arguing that the proceedings had been fast-tracked without adequate notice and that the matter ought to be determined by the Supreme Court.
Despite the application, Mr Kumi was handed over to the US authorities and flown out of the country yesterday.
Meanwhile, his legal team has filed a human rights action alleging that officers of the Narcotics Control Commission, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Attorney-General’s Department and the FBI subjected him to torture and degrading treatment during his arrest.
The case is pending before the courts.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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