Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, has been ordered by a court to remain in police custody after making an appearance before a district court.

Reports indicate that he was arraigned before the Gbese District Court on February 25, 2026, after being re-arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).

The court has adjourned the matter to March 18, 2026, when he is expected to reappear.

His latest detention follows a previous discharge by the same court, where he and others standing trial with him were freed. That discharge came after authorities in the United States filed charges over an alleged $8 million romance fraud scheme said to have targeted elderly Americans.

Background

Abu Trica was initially picked up by Ghanaian security agencies on December 11, 2025, after he was indicted by US prosecutors over claims that he played a role in an extensive online romance scam estimated at more than $8 million.

Court filings unsealed by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio accuse him of being part of a criminal syndicate that allegedly targeted elderly individuals across the United States beginning in 2023.

According to prosecutors, members of the group reportedly relied on artificial intelligence tools to generate fictitious identities and form romantic relationships with older victims on social media and dating platforms.

Investigators contend that the victims were eventually persuaded to part with money and valuable items under false claims, including urgent medical needs, travel-related costs, and supposed investment deals.

The charges further suggest that Abu Trica facilitated the sharing and movement of funds that were transferred from Ohio to alleged accomplices in Ghana and other jurisdictions.