Hours after the High Court dismissed his bid to challenge his treatment at the Gbese District Court, Ghanaian social media influencer Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was taken back into custody on Monday, January 26.
Abu Trica faces allegations of romance fraud, prompting the United States to request his extradition from Ghana.
The initial extradition case involved Abu Trica and two other individuals before the Gbese District Court. However, the State later dropped the charges against the two co-accused.
Following the withdrawal, Abu Trica’s legal team argued that the conspiracy charge against him was no longer valid. The District Court agreed, resulting in the discharge of all three defendants.
Despite this, Abu Trica filed a certiorari application at the High Court, seeking to overturn certain elements of the lower court’s handling of the case.
During the hearing, the Attorney-General’s office maintained that the matter was moot, citing the prior discontinuation of the prosecution and Abu Trica’s discharge.
READ ALSO: Court Reportedly Discharges Abu Trica Amid Tense Rearrest Attempt
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, representing Abu Trica, responded that his client remained in detention despite the charges being dropped, calling it a “disconnect between the letter of the law and its practical effect.”
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai assured the court that immediate steps would be taken to secure Abu Trica’s release if he was still being held.
The High Court eventually struck out the certiorari application, concluding that the issue was moot once Abu Trica had been discharged.
Shortly after the hearing, authorities reportedly re-arrested Abu Trica, raising fresh questions about his ongoing detention.
