Frederick Kumi, the 27-year-old Ghanaian socialite and businessman popularly known as Abu Trica, has filed a lawsuit in the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, accusing several Ghanaian security agencies and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of unlawful arrest, prolonged detention, torture, and violations of his fundamental human rights.
The suit, filed on Monday, names the Minister for the Interior, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Attorney-General, and the FBI as respondents. Kumi is seeking GH₵10 million in damages for what he describes as “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” following his arrest on December 11, 2025.
According to court documents and reports from local media outlets including MyJoyOnline, Pulse Ghana, and Yen.com.gh, Kumi alleges he was subjected to coercive interrogations without legal representation, handcuffed, starved, and threatened during detention. He claims NACOC and EOCO officers conducted unauthorized raids on his residence in Swedru (also known as “Abu Trica’s Mansion”), seizing luxury vehicles—including a Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, and Cybertruck—electronics, and other property, some of which he says belonged to clients or friends left in his care for sale.
Kumi further requests that any evidence obtained through alleged coercive methods be ruled inadmissible in future proceedings. He is also seeking an injunction to restrain foreign agencies like the FBI from exercising investigative powers over Ghanaian citizens on Ghanaian soil, and an order preventing his extradition to the United States until the human rights claims are fully resolved.
The case stems from Kumi’s arrest in a joint operation involving Ghanaian agencies and the FBI, linked to U.S. federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and related offenses. A U.S. Department of Justice indictment unsealed in December 2025 accused him of participating in romance scams that defrauded elderly American victims of over $8 million since 2023, allegedly using AI tools to create fake identities and build trust on social media and dating platforms.
Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, was initially detained in Ghana pending possible extradition. In late January 2026, the Gbese District Court discharged him and two co-accused in related local proceedings, though he was reportedly rearrested shortly afterward by NACOC officers. The rearrest attempt drew criticism, including from legal observers who noted it offended the presiding judge.
The lawsuit has sparked widespread public discussion on social media and in Ghanaian news circles, with some viewing it as a bold challenge to law enforcement overreach, while others question its merits given the serious international allegations against him. Kumi’s legal team has emphasized accountability for any procedural abuses, arguing that clearance in local courts does not preclude claims for reputational or personal harm suffered.
Hearings in the High Court case are expected to begin later in February 2026. The outcome could set precedents regarding cross-border investigations, citizens’ rights during joint operations, and the limits of foreign agency involvement in Ghana.
Kumi remains in custody as proceedings continue, and no official responses from the named respondents have been publicly detailed at the time of this report. The case highlights ongoing tensions between domestic human rights protections and international law enforcement cooperation in cybercrime matters.