An Accra district court has discharged Frederick Kumi, better known as Abu Trica, along with two other defendants in an alleged $8 million romance scam case, affirming that the state could not proceed with the prosecution as presented.
The Gbese District Court on January 31, 2026 discharged the three men who had been on trial over allegations that they were involved in an organised online romance fraud network. Prosecutors had previously arrested the men in relation to allegations that victims, including elderly individuals, were deceived into sending money through fabricated emotional relationships on social media and dating platforms.
Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, was widely reported to have been indicted in the United States earlier in December 2025 on federal charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money-laundering related to similar offences targeting U.S. residents, especially seniors. In the U.S. indictment, prosecutors said the network used false identities and promises to obtain money from victims, resulting in alleged losses of more than $8 million.
At the Ghanaian court proceedings, the prosecution’s case could not be sustained, leading the judge to discharge the accused and two co-defendants. At this point, the discharge means the trial on the charges in Ghana has concluded without conviction. It does not prevent future prosecution should new evidence emerge. The court did not immediately provide details on why the evidence presented was insufficient.
The identities of the two co-accused discharged alongside Abu Trica were not clearly specified in initial reports. Prior reporting indicates several individuals were arrested with him in December 2025 when the alleged scam network was dismantled, and some cases were previously adjourned in related proceedings.
There has been no official statement from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, or legal representatives for the men following the discharge. The role of these agencies in the Ghanaian prosecution stemmed from earlier investigations into the scam allegations.
Internationally, it remains the case that U.S. authorities have charged Kumi in a separate federal indictment, which is distinct from the Ghanaian proceeding and is being handled under U.S. law. Whether the status of local proceedings will have any bearing on international extradition or cooperation in that matter is not yet clear.