Abu Trica re-arrested minutes after he was discharged
Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been re-arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) shortly after he and two others were discharged by the Gbese District Court.
The development follows an earlier disclosure on Monday, January 26, 2026, by Abu Trica’s lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who revealed that NACOC officials had attempted to re-arrest his client inside the courtroom, a move that reportedly angered the presiding judge.
The accused persons were discharged after the state formally withdrew the charges against them.
Confirming the re-arrest to the media, a member of the defence team said Abu Trica and his co-accused were taken to NACOC’s headquarters.
“They’ve been taken back to the Narcotics Headquarters. I’m yet to know why they are there, but I believe it’s for administrative purposes,” he said.
The case against Abu Trica and the others was part of extradition proceedings to determine whether they should be sent to the United States to stand trial.
Abu Trica was initially arrested on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following an indictment by United States authorities over his alleged role in a large-scale online romance scam estimated to have defrauded victims of more than $8 million.
According to unsealed documents from the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the accused was allegedly part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims across the United States from 2023.
Prosecutors claim the group used artificial intelligence tools to create fake identities and form emotional relationships with senior citizens through social media and online dating platforms. Victims were then persuaded to send money and valuables under false claims, including medical emergencies, travel costs and supposed investment opportunities.
The indictment further alleges that Abu Trica helped distribute funds sent from Ohio to accomplices in Ghana and other locations. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification under US law…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>