The High Court in Accra has directed lawyers for embattled Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, who was arrested in connection with an alleged U.S. romance scam, to file formal application for bail variation.
The lawyers had intended to seek a variation of his GH₵30 million bail conditions follows his failure to meet the bail, which required him to produce two justified sureties.
On April 21, 2026, the High Court, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawah Abdul-Baasit, granted him bail. As part of the conditions, he was ordered to surrender all his travel documents, including but not limited to his passport, to the Court Registry.
He was also ordered to report to the Police Criminal Investigations Department every other day until the final determination of a Habeas Corpus application currently pending before the Court.
In Court on Monday, May 4, 2026, when the case was called for the hearing of the Habeas Corpus application, his lawyers represented by Saani Abdul Salam. indicated that their client had failed to meet the bail conditions and wished to apply for a variation.
“The applicant is still in custody. We seek leave to file an application for variation of bail,” one of his lawyers, Saani Abdul Salam, told the Court.
Assistant State Attorney Kwadwo Konadu Asiamah responded that any application for bail variation must be filed formally to allow the Prosecution to respond.
Presiding Judge Justice Abdul-Baasit ruled that the request for bail has no bearing on the Habeas Corpus application and must be filed as a separate, formal motion.
Habeas Corpus Application
On the Habeas Corpus application, Counsel for the Republic submitted that the Respondent had been served with a motion on notice for an Order of Habeas Corpus filed on April 9, 2026.
“We have, however, been unable to file our Affidavit in Opposition and Statement of Case due to some administrative challenges,” the Assistant State Attorney said.
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“However, the Affidavit in Opposition and Statement of Case are being filed this morning, Monday, May 4, at the Registry of this Court.”
“We sincerely apologize to the Court for the delay and any inconvenience this has caused. Under the circumstances, we humbly pray this Court for an adjournment to enable us to serve the Applicant with our Affidavit in Opposition and Statement of Case.”
Counsel for the Applicant, Saani Abdul Salam, did not oppose the request. “In the circumstances, we oblige Counsel on the other side in his prayer for an adjournment to enable him to file his Statement of Case and Affidavit in Opposition,” he told the Court.
Justice Halimah Abdul-Baasit, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to June 2, 2026, for the Habeas Corpus application to be heard.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah who was in Court reports that Abu Trica who is in prisons custody arrived after the case was adjourned to June 2, 2026.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
