High Court clears final hurdle for Abu Trica extradition to US

Ghanaian businessman and social media personality Abu Trica has been taken back into police custody after appearing before the Accra High Court on Thursday, following a ruling that reportedly clears the final legal hurdle in his extradition to the United States.

Abu Trica, who was accompanied to court by his wife, was escorted from the courtroom by security officials immediately after the hearing as authorities moved forward with preparations to hand him over to U.S. officials, subject to the completion of the remaining legal and administrative processes.

The extradition request is connected to an alleged $8 million international romance fraud and money laundering investigation being pursued by U.S. authorities. Prosecutors believe the scheme involved a network of bank accounts through which proceeds from the alleged fraud were transferred.

Following Thursday's hearing, reports on social media claimed that operatives from the FBI and Interpol participated in the operation at the Accra High Court. However, there has been no official confirmation from Ghanaian authorities, the FBI, or Interpol regarding their direct involvement in the court proceedings.

Throughout the case, Abu Trica has maintained his innocence, denying allegations that he received proceeds from the alleged fraud. He has also insisted that he does not own any of the bank accounts investigators claim were used in the operation.

The High Court's decision represents a significant milestone in the extradition proceedings and brings Ghana one step closer to honouring the request by U.S. authorities. Unless new legal challenges arise, Abu Trica is expected to be extradited to the United States to answer the charges against him.