Court tells Abu Trica’s lawyers to formally apply to vary bail terms

The High Court in Accra has directed lawyers for Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, to file a formal application if they want his GH¢30 million bail conditions varied.

The issue came up on Monday, 4 May 2026, when the case was called for hearing in relation to a pending habeas corpus application. His lawyers informed the court that he had still not been able to satisfy the bail terms imposed last month and wanted the conditions reviewed.

But the court made it clear that any request to alter the bail terms must come through a separate and properly filed motion.

Abu Trica was granted bail on 21 April 2026 by Justice Halimah El-Alawah Abdul-Baasit in the extradition-related matter against him. The conditions required him to produce two justified sureties, surrender all travel documents to the court registry and report to the CID every other day pending the final determination of the habeas corpus application.

When the matter resumed, defence counsel Saani Abdul Salam told the court that his client remained in custody because the bail conditions had not been met and sought leave to pursue a variation.

The prosecution, represented by Assistant State Attorney Kwadwo Konadu Asiamah, insisted that such a request must be filed formally so the state would have the opportunity to respond.

Justice Abdul-Baasit agreed, ruling that the bail question was separate from the habeas corpus proceedings and could not be dealt with informally in the course of that hearing.

On the habeas corpus application itself, the state told the court it had been served with the motion but had not yet filed its affidavit in opposition and statement of case because of administrative difficulties. The prosecution said those processes were being filed that same morning and asked for an adjournment to allow service on the applicant.

The defence did not oppose the request.