A 27-year-old Ghanaian, Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, who was arrested over alleged cyber fraud, has taken the Government of Ghana and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the High Court, accusing them of torture, unlawful detention, and gross violations of his fundamental human rights.
In an application filed before the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, Kumi is demanding GH₵10 million in damages, alleging that he was subjected to a coordinated pattern of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” after his arrest on December 11, 2025.
The respondents in the suit include the Minister for the Interior, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Attorney-General.
According to court documents, lawyers for Abu Trica allege that more than 15 armed officers stormed his apartment in the Airport Residential Area while he was playing video games with friends.
They claim he was immediately handcuffed and kept restrained from morning until late evening without access to food, water, or rest.
The most striking allegation in the suit concerns the third respondent, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Kumi contends that while in the custody of Ghanaian authorities, he was subjected to a coercive interrogation by three foreign nationals who identified themselves as FBI agents.
He alleges that the agents, who have no independent policing authority in Ghana, compelled him to sign documents he could not read due to limited literacy and threatened to link him to fraudulent transactions valued at up to US$8 million if he failed to disclose his phone passwords.
“The decision and conduct of officers of the second respondent in permitting agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to interrogate the applicant without access to counsel was unlawful and in violation of Articles 14 and 19 of the 1992 Constitution,” the motion states.
‘Abu Trica Mansion’ raided in owner’s absence
While Kumi remained in custody, he alleges that officers from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) carried out unauthorised searches at his residence, popularly known as “Abu Trica’s Mansion,” in Swedru.
Luxury items allegedly seized from Abu Trica Mansion
The applicant claims that officers confiscated a vast collection of luxury vehicles, electronics, and personal effects from his residence, including:
Vehicles: Lamborghini, Mercedes, and a Cybertruck.
Electronics: Multiple iPhones (from models 7 to 15 Pro), MacBooks, an Alienware laptop, a PlayStation 5 console, and a Starlink Wi-Fi modem.
Personal effects: Cartier watches, jewellery, and silver chains.
Allegations of wrongful seizure and reputational damage
Kumi further claims that many of the items seized from his residence belonged to friends, and that officers failed to provide any inventory or receipt for the confiscated property.
He also accuses the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of undermining his presumption of innocence by publicly labelling him a “notorious cyber-criminal” in an official news release, despite no judicial determination of guilt.
The motion calls for justice and demands an end to foreign interference in his case.
Kumi seeks GH₵10 million and critical court orders
In addition to GH₵10 million in compensation, Kumi is asking the court for several key orders:
- Exclusion of evidence: A ruling that any information or items obtained during the “coercive” interrogations and “unauthorised” searches be deemed inadmissible in any future proceedings.
- Interlocutory injunction: A restraining order to prevent the State from extraditing or deporting him to any foreign country until the suit is fully determined.
- Restraint of the FBI: An order specifically preventing the FBI and its agents from exercising any investigative or interrogation powers over him within Ghanaian territory.
The case is expected to be heard in the Human Rights Division of the High Court in February 2026.
Legal experts say the outcome could set a landmark precedent on the scope of foreign law enforcement operations in Ghana and the protections afforded to citizens in high-profile cybercrime investigations.
