Gbese Court dismisses Abu Trica’s to halt US extradition

The Gbese District Court has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, against his extradition to the United States.

In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, March 25, 2026, the court, presided over by Her Honour Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, held that the offences for which the United States is seeking his extradition constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 extradition treaty between Ghana and the US.

Abu Trica is wanted by American authorities on allegations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

His legal team had argued that the charges—wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy—are not specifically listed in the 1931 treaty and therefore cannot form the basis of extradition proceedings.

The court, however, ruled otherwise, noting that while money laundering and conspiracy are not explicitly mentioned in the treaty, they are covered under relevant United Nations conventions to which both countries are parties.

“Money laundering and conspiracy, though not specifically mentioned in the 1931 treaty, and in the case of conspiracy and money laundering, same has been catered for in the above-named UN Convention. The preliminary legal objection is therefore overruled,” the judge stated.

The ruling clears the way for the extradition process to continue, with the court expected to set a date for the next hearing.