Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, is set to face a US federal judge today, July 10, 2026, following his extradition.
According to reports, Abu Trica is facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the crimes levelled against him.
In a news card shared by JOYFM stated, “Abu Trica to appear before US federal judge today; faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy”.
The development follows Abu Trica’s extradition to the United States to face charges related to an alleged $8 million romance scam case.
According to sources, Abu Trica was flown out of Ghana on Thursday, July 9, aboard Delta Airlines flight DL 157.
Ghanaian Journalist Kobby Kyei, in a post on X, wrote, “Abu Trica was this morning extradited to the United States at approximately 9:30 a.m”.
In another post, he wrote, “Abu Trica was captured at the airport while boarding a flight following his extradition”.
Abu Trica’s extradition follows a July 2 decision by the High Court in Accra ordering that he be surrendered to US authorities to face allegations of involvement in a romance fraud scheme.
Meanwhile, some weeks ago, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the lawyer for embattled Abu Trica, detailed that there is no $8m romance scam as his client is being extradited because of $13,000.
According to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Abu Trica was set up by an FBI informant who approached him, saying that he was expecting some 50,000 dollars.
He alleged that the FBI informant asked Abu Trica to help find a bank account for them to transfer the money into, where he would receive 13,000 dollars if he found an account.
In a post on X, Oliver Barker-Vormawor wrote, “Let’s Talk Abu Trica.
Abu Trica was set up by an FBI informant who approached him, saying that he was expecting some 50,000 dollars. And that Abu Trica should help find a bank account for them to transfer the money into.
His share would be 13,000 dollars if he found an account. Abu Trica went around asking different people because he thought he was making 13,000 dollars. Someone gave him an account, which he gave to the FBI undercover agents. And he was paid 13,000 dollars”.
He added, “This is the entire evidence the FBI provided. When Abu was arrested, the FBI came to him to give them the name of the person whose account it was.
Abu didn’t. Before the matter went to court, they had EOCO Issue a press statement claiming that Abu had scammed people of 8 million dollars. There is no 8 million USD anywhere. We are here because of 13,000 dollars”.
Barker-Vormawor disclosed that Abu Trica was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “Now Abu was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. We presented the magistrate with 80 pages of legal argument, tracing the history of the Extradition Treaty, showing that the offence of conspiracy is not an extraditable offence.
Now, the matter is under appeal, so I won’t say more than that. Except that in my whole life, I have never met a judge so eager to extradite a person before. Complete refusal to follow due process. Her mind was made up from day 1.
The truth is, out of 200 requests Ghanaian has received, all 200 have been extradited by our courts. 200-0 oo. If our Courts are willing to follow the law, not be afraid of America, Abu’s case will be 200-1”.
In related news, Ghanaian media personality Captain Smart has said Abu Trica will be released and compensated even if he is extradited to the United States of America.
According to Captain Smart, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) does not possess evidence directly implicating Abu Trica, as they are working with documents submitted by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Captain Smart further claimed that initially Abu Trica was accused of defrauding someone of $8 million, but alleged that the figure was later reduced to $15,000 before eventually being narrowed to five per cent of that amount.
Speaking on his show on Onua TV, Captain Smart stated, “I interviewed Abu Trica here, and those with low wisdom criticised me because of the interview; they want to extradite him. They started from $8 million, saying he had defrauded someone. From 8 million to 6 million, 6 to 4, 4 to 2, 2 to 1, 1million to 500,000, 500,000 to 50,000, 50,000 to $15,000, from 15,000 to 5 per cent of $15,000. They scaled it down to $15,000, then five per cent of $15,000”.
“If they extradite him to America, they will release him. They will also compensate him on top of it because the FBI said they have no incriminating information against him. I have the documents. They are acting based on the documents submitted to them by the EOCO of this country,” he stated.
See the post below:
Abu Trica to appear before US federal judge today; faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy#JoyNews #JoyFM #GhanaNews #JoyPrime #MyJoyOnline pic.twitter.com/YqXxV5QOLl
— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) July 10, 2026
