High Court adjourns Certiorari Application in Abu Trica Case

An Accra High Court presided over by Her Ladyship Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit has adjourned proceedings in the case of Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica, to January 26, 2026 following submissions by counsel on an application for judicial review, by way of Certiorari.

At the hearing, Derrick Ackah-Nyamike, representing the Republic, informed the court that the respondent had been served with the application on January 15, 2026.

He explained that subsequent to the filing of the application, the prosecution had filed a notice of withdrawal of the case at the District Court, where the matter originated, rendering the application moot.

“In effect, the application is moot and I seek to know the pleasure of learned counsel,” Mr Ackah-Nyamike submitted.

However, counsel for the applicants, Oliver Barker Vormawor, disagreed, arguing that despite the prosecution’s claim of withdrawal, the applicants remained in custody.

He told the court that the prayer to withdraw the case was made on January 13, 2026 with a formal notice filed on January 15, 2026.

“We are of the view that it is within the jurisdiction of this court to discharge the accused persons and that is the substance of this application,” Mr Vormawor submitted.

In response, the presiding judge observed that if the District Court had not yet pronounced on the withdrawal, then the prosecution could be deemed ongoing.

Mr Ackah-Nyamike replied that since the matter had been adjourned to February at the District Court, the Republic was taking steps to abridge time to have the issue determined earlier.

Her Ladyship Abdul-Bassit stated that she would limit herself strictly to the application before her and would not delve into issues outside the record.

Mr Ackah-Nyamike then prayed for a short adjournment to enable the Republic to respond adequately to the application.

“I will grant a short adjournment,” the judge ruled.

Counsel for the applicants subsequently applied for bail for the applicants pending the determination of the matter.

The court declined the request, reiterating its decision to confine itself to the application before it, but urged the Attorney-General’s Department to expedite action in the case.

Later, during proceedings on the certiorari application, Mr Ackah-Nyamike told the court that the Republic had filed an affidavit in opposition to the motion on January 20, 2026. Mr Vormawor indicated that the defence was amenable to the matter being stood down briefly to enable the court to consider the processes.

The judge, however, noted that she had not yet been able to go through the filed documents and consequently adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, for continuation.

 

 

 

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