Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica), a 27-year-old Ghanaian national who was taken into custody on suspicion of cyber fraud, has filed a lawsuit against the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Ghanaian government in the High Court, claiming that he was subjected to torture, unlawful detention, and egregious violations of his basic human rights.
Kumi is requesting GH10 million in damages in a motion submitted to the High Court’s Human Rights Division in Accra, citing what he claims to be a planned campaign of cruel, inhuman, and humiliating treatment following his detention on December 11, 2025.
The lawsuit lists the Minister for Interior, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the FBI, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Attorney-General as defendants.
Abu Trica claims that his arrest and imprisonment were accompanied by physical assault, aggressive questioning by foreign agents, and the systematic theft of his belongings.
In foreign custody, he was interrogated, kept without food, and handcuffed.
The court records show that Abu Trica’s lawyers claim that more than 15 armed policemen barged into his apartment in the Airport Residential Area while he was having fun with pals.
Abu Trica asserts that he was immediately arrested and kept in custody from morning until late night, during which time he was denied access to food, water, or sleep.
The FBI, the 3rd Respondent, is the subject of the most egregious claim.
Kumi claims that three foreign nationals, who were identified as FBI agents, interrogated him under duress while he was being held by Ghanaian authorities.
According to him, these agents, who have no independent police authority in Ghana, threatened to link him to fraudulent transactions worth up to $8 million if he didn’t provide his phone passwords, and due to his limited literacy, they compelled him to sign documents he couldn’t understand.
According to the motion, the choice and behaviour of the 2nd Respondent’s officers in allowing Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to question the Applicant without access to counsel were unlawful and in violation of Articles 14 and 19 of the 1992 Constitution.
‘Abu Trica Mansion’ raided while owner was not home
Kumi claims that police from NACOC and EOCO illegally searched his home, Abu Trica’s Mansion, in Swedru while he was detained.
According to the applicant, the officers confiscated an incredible amount of pricey goods and electrical equipment, such as:
Automobiles: A Cybertruck, a Mercedes, and a Lamborghini.
Electronics: A Starlink Wi-Fi modem, a PlayStation 5 console, an Alienware laptop, many iPhones (between versions 7 and 15 Pro), and MacBooks.
Personal Items: silver chains, jewelry, and watches made by Cartier.
Additionally, Kumi claims that the officers did not offer an inventory or receipt for the stolen property and that a large portion of it belonged to his friends.
Furthermore, he claims that by calling him a well-known cybercriminal in an official press statement before there was a judicial ruling on his guilt, the EOCO has infringed upon his presumption of innocence.
Justice and an end to foreign intervention are what the people are asking for.
Kumi is requesting the court to issue a number of crucial orders, in addition to the GH₵10 million in damages:
Exclusion of Evidence: A judgement excluding the use of any data or materials acquired during the unauthorized searches and coercive interviews in any future proceedings.
An interlocutory injunction is a court order prohibiting the state from extraditing or deporting him to any foreign nation while the case is being resolved.
FBI Restraint: A specific directive prohibiting the FBI and its representatives from using any investigative or interrogation authority over him in Ghanaian territory.
In February 2026, the case is anticipated to be transferred to the High Court of Human Rights.
The result may have far-reaching consequences for the extent to which foreign law enforcement organizations are permitted to operate in Ghana and the safeguards provided to residents during high-profile cybercrime investigations.
Source: myjoyonline.com
