The Gbese District Court has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by lawyers for Frederick Kumi in an ongoing extradition case involving the United States.
Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, is being sought by U.S. authorities over allegations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, as part of broader international efforts to tackle transnational financial crimes.
His defence team, led by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, argued that the charges fall outside the scope of the 1931 extradition treaty between Ghana and the United States. They maintained that the offences cited are not explicitly listed as extraditable under the agreement and that Ghana cannot rely on more recent domestic legislation to extend its provisions.
The defence also contended that the treaty’s provisions relating to conspiracy do not apply to the charges brought against their client.
Despite these arguments, the court rejected the objection, paving the way for the extradition proceedings to continue.