A Ghanaian social media influencer, Abu Trica, born Frederick Kumi, has been extradited to the United States to stand trial over allegations that he masterminded an $8 million (£5.9 million) romance scam targeting elderly Americans.
Kumi has denied all the allegations against him.
According to US prosecutors, he allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to create fake online identities, which were deployed on social media and dating platforms to build trust with victims before convincing them to part with their money.
He was flown to the US on Thursday and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Kumi’s lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, told the BBC he had gone to court on Thursday seeking to halt the extradition, only to discover shortly afterwards that his client had already been placed on a Delta Airlines flight to the United States.
Barker-Vormawor accused Ghana’s government of bypassing due process by allegedly failing to wait for the court’s decision, arguing that the move to extradite Kumi “raises profound constitutional questions”.
The Ghanaian government has not yet issued any official response.
Before his arrest, Kumi frequently showcased luxury cars, designer clothing and other expensive possessions on social media, where he has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, attracting questions about the source of his wealth.
Prosecutors allege that victims were approached through social media and online dating platforms, where they were drawn into frequent and intimate conversations before being persuaded to send money.
The requests were allegedly made under false claims, including emergency medical bills, travel costs and investment opportunities.
Investigators say the funds and valuables were transferred to co-conspirators posing as third parties, while Kumi allegedly redistributed the proceeds to associates in both Ghana and the United States.
The influencer, who hails from Swedru in southern Ghana, was arrested last year during a joint operation involving Ghanaian and US authorities.
There is also a discrepancy over his age, with his lawyer maintaining that he is 28 years old, while US prosecutors list him as 31.
The prosecution is being handled under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law.
US authorities have intensified efforts in recent months to dismantle criminal networks operating across the United States and West Africa that target elderly Americans through online fraud schemes.
Last week, another extradited Ghanaian suspect, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, widely known as Dada Joe Remix, pleaded guilty in the US to romance and inheritance fraud schemes that defrauded American victims.
In December, Oluwaseun Adekoya, a Nigerian identified as the leader of a nationwide bank fraud and money-laundering network, was sentenced by a US court to 20 years in prison for laundering more than $2 million.
