Court sets February 7 ruling date in Abu Trica extradition case

The Gbese District Court has scheduled February 7, 2026, to determine whether social media personality Frederick Kumi, widely known online as Abu Trica, will be discharged from extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the United States government.

Kumi, noted for flaunting a lavish lifestyle on social media, is wanted by U.S. authorities over alleged fraud offences involving false pretence.

He is currently before the court under Ghana’s Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22), which requires a determination on whether he should be surrendered to face trial abroad.

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The court fixed the ruling date after state prosecutors formally withdrew charges against two additional accused persons, Lord Eshun and Bernard Aidoo, who had been cited as accessories in a charge sheet filed on December 12, 2025.

Prosecutors indicated that both men were arraigned under Section 6 of the Extradition Act as accessories but said the state needed time “to put its house in order.”

Counsel for the two welcomed the withdrawal, insisting their clients should never have been brought before the court without provisional charges.

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Following the development, Abu Trica’s defence team, led by lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor, argued that their client must also be released.

Barker-Vormawor contended that Kumi had been charged on two counts of conspiracy to defraud; however, the alleged co-conspirators had now been discharged, making it legally untenable to continue proceedings based on conspiracy.

He maintained that no individual can be prosecuted alone for conspiracy where the supposed collaborators are neither before the court nor cited as fugitives.

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The Attorney-General’s office pushed back, noting that Kumi is not being tried in Ghana for the alleged offences but is instead subject to committal proceedings to determine whether extradition should proceed.

Prosecutors further informed the court that they had filed a motion for stay of proceedings pending judicial review, insisting all outstanding processes must be resolved in accordance with Act 22 and Ghana’s extradition treaty obligations.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the court declined requests to immediately discharge Kumi and adjourned the matter. The judge announced that a ruling would be delivered on February 7, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.