Abu Trica extradited to US to face alleged romance scam and money laundering charges

According to JoyNews, Kumi was flown out of Ghana on Thursday morning aboard a Delta Airlines flight DL157 after Ghanaian authorities completed the extradition process.

The move followed unsuccessful legal attempts by his lawyers to stop the transfer. The Accra High Court dismissed an application challenging the extradition order, while a subsequent emergency application seeking to delay his removal also failed to halt the process.

Kumi is wanted by US authorities over allegations that he was involved in a fraud scheme that allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to create fake identities and build online relationships with victims before obtaining money through deception.

He faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The socialite was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, during a joint operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was later granted bail of GH¢30 million with two sureties to be justified while his legal team challenged the extradition request.

The legal battle intensified after the Accra High Court on July 2, 2026, dismissed an application filed by Kumi’s lawyers seeking to overturn a decision by the Gbese District Court, which had approved the extradition request.

Following the ruling, security officials rearrested Kumi to facilitate his transfer to the United States.

His lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, had earlier raised concerns about the process, claiming that the defence team had been unable to access Kumi for more than a week and was uncertain about his whereabouts while preparations for the extradition were ongoing.

In a Facebook post after learning about the court’s decision, Barker-Vormawor wrote that the case had been “fast tracked” and suggested that the matter could be taken to the Supreme Court.

The defence team later filed an emergency application on July 3, 2026, arguing that the extradition process had been accelerated without adequate notice. However, the reported transfer suggests the application did not prevent authorities from proceeding.

Kumi’s extradition forms part of a broader crackdown by US authorities on individuals accused of participating in international cybercrime and romance fraud networks.

Other Ghanaian nationals who have faced similar legal actions include Joseph Badu Boateng, popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia4Reall, who was extradited from the United Kingdom in 2023 and later pleaded guilty in the US.

Meanwhile, Kumi’s legal team has filed a separate human rights lawsuit against several institutions, including the Narcotics Control Commission, Economic and Organised Crime Office, Attorney-General’s Department and the FBI, alleging violations of his rights during his arrest.

It remains unclear how the extradition will affect the progress of that separate legal action.