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Lead counsel for Abu Trica, also known as Frederick Kumi, told the media that the Gbese court has overruled a preliminary objection regarding the proper jurisdiction for his client’s extradition proceedings.
“The preliminary legal objection was about which court should hear the application, based on territorial jurisdiction,” the lawyer explained. “The court confirmed it is properly seized of the matter and vacated the objection.”
The defense will return on January 13, 2026, when the formal application on jurisdiction will be considered before any examination of the extradition merits.
Kumi was arrested on December 11, 2025, in a joint operation by Ghanaian law enforcement and the U.S. FBI. He is accused of orchestrating a transnational online romance fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio has indicted Kumi on wire fraud and conspiracy charges, alleging he coordinated the scheme and laundered proceeds.
Authorities say the operation has been active since 2023, and Kumi’s arrest highlights ongoing collaboration between Ghanaian and U.S. law enforcement to combat cybercrime and protect vulnerable individuals.
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