Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, known as “Abu Trica”, has been extradited to the United States to face multi-million dollar fraud charges.
Mr Kumi was flown out of Accra on Thursday morning aboard a Delta Airlines flight, concluding a months-long legal battle against his transfer.
US prosecutors allege the socialite participated in an £8m ($10m) romance scam targeting elderly Americans. The scheme reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create fake identities and exploit victims.
He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Mr Kumi was arrested in December 2025 during a joint operation by Ghanaian security agencies and the FBI. He was initially granted bail of GH¢30m whilst his legal team challenged the extradition order.
The legal process accelerated rapidly this month. On 2 July, the Accra High Court dismissed a final challenge by Mr Kumi’s lawyers against the extradition request, leading to his immediate re-arrest.
His defence team, led by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, filed an emergency application the following day to halt the transfer, arguing the case had been fast-tracked without proper notice. However, Thursday’s deportation indicates the application was unsuccessful.
Separately, Mr Kumi has filed a human rights lawsuit accusing Ghanaian authorities and the FBI of torture and degrading treatment during his initial arrest. It remains unclear how his transfer to the US will affect these proceedings.
The case is part of an ongoing crackdown by US authorities on international cyber-fraud networks operating out of West Africa.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana