Abu Trica Re-Arrested After High Court Strikes Out Certiorari Application

Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was re-arrested on Monday, January 26, shortly after the High Court struck out his certiorari application challenging proceedings at the Gbese District Court.

Abu Trica, a Ghanaian national, is facing romance fraud allegations, for which the United States has submitted an extradition request to the Ghanaian authorities.

Extradition proceedings involving Abu Trica and two other accused persons were initially ongoing at the Gbese District Court. However, the State later discontinued the case against the two co-accused.

Following the discontinuation, counsel for Abu Trica argued that since the charge before the District Court was conspiracy, the withdrawal of the case against the other accused persons effectively collapsed the charge against their client. The District Court upheld this argument and discharged all three accused persons.

Despite the discharge, Abu Trica returned to the High Court with an application for certiorari, seeking to quash certain aspects of the District Court’s proceedings.

At the High Court, the Attorney-General’s Department contended that the application had become moot, citing the earlier discontinuation of the prosecution and the discharge of the applicant.

However, Abu Trica’s counsel, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, argued that his client remained in detention despite the withdrawal of the charges, creating what he described as a gap between the law and its practical enforcement.

In response, the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, assured the court that steps would be taken to ensure Abu Trica’s immediate release if he was still being held in custody.

The court subsequently struck out the certiorari application, ruling that the matter had become moot following the applicant’s discharge.

Shortly after the court proceedings, Abu Trica was re-arrested by state authorities.