Abu Trica re-arrested after High Court strikes out Certiorari application

Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica, was rearrested on Monday, January 26, shortly after the High Court dismissed his application for certiorari, challenging the proceedings at the Gbese District Court.

Abu Trica is facing allegations of romance fraud, for which the United States of America has submitted an extradition request to the Ghanaian authorities. Extradition proceedings against Abu Trica and two other accused persons were initially ongoing before the Gbese District Court.

The State later discontinued the case against the two co-accused. Following the discontinuation, lawyers 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 the argument and discharged all three accused persons. Despite the discharge, Abu Trica subsequently returned to the High Court to argue an application for certiorari seeking to quash aspects of the District Court’s proceedings.

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

Abu Trica’s counsel, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, maintained that his client’s detention despite the prosecution’s withdrawal created a disconnect between the law’s intent and its practical application.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai assured the court that measures would be taken to secure Abu Trica’s immediate discharge if he remained in custody despite the case’s discontinuation.

The court struck out the certiorari application, ruling that the matter had become moot once the applicant was discharged.

State authorities re-arrested Abu Trica shortly after the High Court proceedings.