Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Ghanaian social media influencer known as Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, has been extradited to the United States to face trial for allegedly running a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8 million (approximately £5.9 million). Kumi was flown out of Ghana on Thursday, July 9, 2026, aboard Delta Airlines flight DL157, following a decision by the High Court in Accra on July 2, 2026, ordering his surrender to US authorities to face allegations of involvement in an international romance fraud scheme.
The extradition comes after months of legal proceedings initiated by the United States following Kumi's arrest on December 11, 2025, during a joint operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to US prosecutors, Kumi was a key participant in an elaborate romance scam syndicate that specifically targeted elderly Americans, swindling them out of money before routing the proceeds back to Ghana.
Prosecutors allege that Kumi and his co-conspirators used artificial intelligence tools to create fake online identities, targeting victims through social media and dating platforms. They would establish romantic relationships, often through frequent and intimate conversations, before escalating to requests for money or valuables under false pretenses such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. The funds were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties, with Kumi allegedly distributing the proceeds among associates in both Ghana and the United States.
The case is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, as American authorities intensify efforts to dismantle fraud networks operating across the US and West Africa that prey on elderly victims. Kumi faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Kumi's extradition was not without controversy. His lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, told the BBC that he went to court on Thursday to stop the extradition before learning shortly afterward that Kumi had in fact already been placed on a Delta Airlines flight to the United States. Barker-Vormawor accused the Ghanaian government of sidestepping "judicial oversight" by allegedly not waiting for the court's verdict, and said the decision "raises profound constitutional questions". He also raised concerns over his inability to access Kumi after learning that he had reportedly been taken to the Police Hospital in Accra while extradition proceedings were ongoing.
Despite those concerns, the High Court in Accra had on July 2, 2026, granted the US extradition request, clearing the way for Ghanaian authorities to hand Kumi over to US officials. Kumi had been in custody since December 2025 and was at one point granted bail by the Accra High Court in the sum of GH¢30 million with two justified sureties while the extradition proceedings continued.
Kumi, who is from the town of Swedru in southern Ghana, had long flaunted luxury items online to his more than 100,000 Instagram followers, raising suspicions about the sources of his income. There is also a disagreement about his true age, with his lawyer maintaining he is 28 years old while US prosecutors identify him as 31.
Kumi's extradition comes amid a broader crackdown on transnational fraud schemes. Last week, extradited Ghanaian fraudster Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, pleaded guilty in the United States to using romance and inheritance schemes to defraud Americans. In December, a US court sentenced Oluwaseun Adekoya, a Nigerian ringleader of nationwide bank fraud and money-laundering conspiracies, to 20 years in prison for laundering over $2 million.
As of the time of publication, the Ghanaian government had not publicly commented on the extradition or the allegations raised by Kumi's legal team. Under both Ghanaian and US law, the allegations remain before the courts, and Kumi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments