Socialite Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and popularly called Abu Trica, has been formally charged with conspiracy to defraud by false pretences and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges follow his arrest and detention nearly two weeks ago in relation to an alleged romance scam and wire fraud case.
Abu Trica appeared before the Gbetse District Court on December 23, where prosecutors officially preferred the charges against him.
His arrest on December 11, 2025, was a joint operation involving the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies, including the Office of the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the Cyber Security Authority, after months of investigations.
Abu Trica was charged alongside Lord Eshun and Bernard Aidoo. There was a heavy security presence at the court premises as they were escorted into the court today.
He was represented in court by a legal team of nine lawyers, with activist-lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor serving as lead counsel.
The proceedings on the day were mainly procedural, focusing on meeting the formal legal requirements for his extradition to the United States.
