Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has filed a suit against key Ghanaian security agencies and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over what he describes as unlawful arrest and abuse of his fundamental rights.
The suit, filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, names the Minister for the Interior, the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the FBI as respondents.
At the centre of the case is Abu Trica’s arrest in December 2025 during a joint operation involving Ghanaian authorities and U.S. investigators. The arrest was linked to an ongoing criminal case in the United States, where he has been accused of being part of a large-scale online fraud and money-laundering scheme targeting American citizens.
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In his statement of claim, Abu Trica argues that while investigations may be ongoing, the manner in which he was arrested and detained breached the 1992 Constitution. He alleges that armed officers stormed his airport residence, restrained him for long hours and subjected him to degrading treatment, including denial of food and basic care.
He is therefore seeking damages estimated at GH¢10 million and a declaration from the court that the actions of the agencies involved violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty and due process.
The inclusion of the FBI in the suit has added a diplomatic and legal twist to the matter. Abu Trica contends that foreign law enforcement officials acted beyond their mandate on Ghanaian soil and in ways inconsistent with local laws and international human rights standards.
The lawsuit comes against the backdrop of a series of dramatic developments. After initial charges were withdrawn at a district court earlier this year, Abu Trica was re-arrested in a separate operation.
While EOCO and other agencies have maintained that their actions were lawful and based on international cooperation agreements, legal analysts say the case could test the limits of such arrangements and clarify how far foreign agencies can go when operating alongside Ghanaian authorities.
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