The lawyer for embattled Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has detailed what he describes as an alleged set-up by a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent against his client.

According to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, his client who is facing charges relating to a large-scale online romance scam estimated at over $8 million was once approached by an FBI agent and lured into a dubious deal.

In a social media post on March 28, 2026, Barker-Vormawor claimed that the FBI agent deceived Abu Trica by saying they wanted to withdraw $50,000 and needed an account to transfer the money into.

The agent allegedly promised Abu Trica a share of $13,000 if he could provide such an account.

Court clears way for Abu Trica's extradition to US

“Abu Trica was set up by an FBI informant who approached him, claiming he was expecting $50,000 and needed an account for the transfer. His share would be $13,000 if he found one. Abu went around asking different people because he thought he was making $13,000.

“Someone eventually gave him an account, which he passed on to the FBI undercover agents. He was then paid $13,000. This is the entire evidence the FBI provided,” Barker-Vormawor stated.

He further explained that when Abu was arrested, the FBI demanded the name of the person whose account was used but Abu refused to disclose it. Before the matter went to court, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) issued a press statement claiming Abu had scammed victims of $8 million.

The lawyer insisted that the charges leveled against his client are baseless. He revealed that they have filed an appeal after the Gbese District Court granted a request to surrender Frederick Kumi to US authorities over the alleged scam.

The legal team has been given 15 days to challenge the decision.

“There is no $8 million anywhere. We are here because of $13,000. Abu was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. We presented the magistrate with 80 pages of legal argument, tracing the history of the Extradition Treaty, and showing that conspiracy is not an extraditable offence.

“Now, the matter is under appeal, so I won’t say more than that. Except that in my whole life I have never met a judge so eager to extradite a person. Her mind was made up from day one. Out of 200 requests Ghana has received, all 200 have been extradited.

“If our courts are willing to follow the law and not be intimidated by America, Abu’s case will be 200-1,” Barker-Vormawor added.

Background

Facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Abu Trica’s defence team, led by Oliver Barker Vormawor, filed a preliminary objection challenging the legal basis of the extradition proceedings. They argued that the offences cited are not covered under the 1931 extradition treaty between Ghana and the United States.

The defence contended that wire fraud and money laundering are not explicitly listed as extraditable offences under the treaty, and that the provision on conspiracy applies only to specific offences unrelated to the present case.

They further argued that Ghana cannot rely on more recent domestic laws to expand the scope of the treaty, insisting that any extradition must strictly adhere to the offences agreed upon by both countries.

Abu Trica was re-arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) after he and his co-accused were discharged by the Gbese District Court on January 26, 2026, following the withdrawal of earlier charges by the state.

Prosecutors subsequently filed fresh charges of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud by false pretence against him.

The ongoing proceedings are to determine whether he should be extradited to the United States to stand trial. He was initially arrested on December 11, 2025, after being indicted by US authorities over his alleged role in a large-scale online romance scam estimated at over $8 million.

Let’s Talk Abu Trica.

1. Abu Trica was set up by an FBI informant who approached him saying that he was expecting some 50,000 dollars. And that Abu Trica should help find a bank account for them to transfer the money into.

2. His share would be 13,000 dollars if he found an…

— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) March 28, 2026