Tag: Hushpuppi

  • Hushpuppi: US Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Abba Kyari

    Hushpuppi: US Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Abba Kyari

    A US court has issued an arrest warrant for a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari over his links to alleged fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

    The arrest warrant was issued by a U.S magistrate judge, Otis Wright, a spokesperson in the United States Attorney’s Office confirmed to Channels Television.

    According to documents unsealed this week in the US, Mr Kyari had arrested and jailed one Chibuzo Vincent, at the behest of Hushpuppi.

    Mr Kyari also allegedly sent Hushpuppi bank account details into which Hushpuppi could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.

    Mr Kyari, in a Facebook post on Thursday, denied the allegations.

    Alleged dispute

    On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice announced that Hushpuppi had been involved “in an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar.”

    Six persons were indicted in the investigation.

    In laundering the proceeds of the Qatar operation, a dispute broke out among members of the conspiracy, courts documents said.

    The dispute allegedly prompted Vincent, one of the members, to contact the victim and inform them of the scam operation.

    After this contact, Hushpuppi allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Mr Kyari, a top police officer in Nigeria.

    Mr Kyari was also alleged to have provided third-party bank accounts to receive payment for the illegal arrest.

    Kyari’s defence

    In his defence on Thursday, Mr Kyari said Vincent had been arrested only because Hushpuppi claimed that he (Vincent) had seriously threatened to attack his family in Nigeria.

    He said Vincent was eventually released on bail after no actual threats were discovered.

    “Nobody demanded a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi,” Mr Kyari said.

    “Our focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened,” Kyari said.”

    Mr Kyari also said Hushpuppi once sent N300,000 to his (Kyari) tailor after the alleged fraudster had admired some of his outfits on social media.

    The clothes “were brought to our office and he sent somebody to collect them in our office,” Mr Kyari said.

  • BREAKING: Hushpuppi: IGP orders review of allegation against Abba Kyari

    BREAKING: Hushpuppi: IGP orders review of allegation against Abba Kyari

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on Thursday ordered the review of the allegation against Abba Kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

    Kyari, who is the head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was linked to fraudster, Hushpuppi, whose name is Ramon Abass.

    Hushpuppi, an alleged international fraudster risks jail term of 20 years after pleading guilty to fraud.

    Reports had it that Hushpuppi had bribed the IRT boss to jail a disloyal member of his gang. This, Kyari has denied

    However, the IGP said the review was in line with the commitement of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure justice and professionalism.

    This was contained in a statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba entitled: “Alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari: Inspector General of Police orders a review of the information.”

    The statement reads: “Sequel to the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against one of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Abba Kyari, the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered an internal review of the allegations.

    “The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of its professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.

    “Further developments on this case will be communicated to members of the public accordingly.”

  • Abba Kyari breaks silence on alleged bribe to arrest Hushpuppi’s ally

    Abba Kyari breaks silence on alleged bribe to arrest Hushpuppi’s ally

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has denied receiving a bribe from a Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

    The United States Department of Justice had said ongoing investigations showed that Hushpuppi allegedly bribed Kyari to arrest one Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, one of his accomplices in Nigeria.

    Reacting to the allegations on Thursday morning, the DCP in a statement on his verified Facebook page said his hands are clean.

    According to Kyari, nobody demanded money from the embattled Instagram influencer, stating that the focus of the police was to save people’s lives that were purportedly threatened.

    Kyari explained that Hushpuppi had informed the police that somebody in Nigeria was threatening to kill his family. He added that the social media celebrity, who was based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before his incarceration, also sent the suspect’s phone number, urging the police to act fast to save his family.

    He however said the suspect was allowed to go after investigation showed they were long time friends with disagreements over money. Kyari insisted that he did not demand a dime from Hushuppi, saying the only time they had discussions about money was when the fraudster demanded to know who sews his native clothes and caps, adding that after linking both party, Hushpuppi sent N300,000 for five sets of attires.

    Kyari said the clothes and caps were delivered to his office after which someone collected them for Hushpuppi. He urged anyone interested in further pursuing the matter to contact Vincent for confirmation.

    He urged his supporters to remain calm, stating that those working towards damaging his reputation would be disgraced.

    The statement reads in part, “For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious big money, They will be disappointed once again as our hands are clean and our record of service for two decades is open for everybody to see. They will continue seeing us serving our fatherland and we will continue responding to ALL distress calls from ALL Nigerians provided they are life threatening.

    “For good Nigerians who appreciate our service, please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false narratives without any evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors”.

  • Hushpuppi risks 20-year jail as he pleads guilty

    Hushpuppi risks 20-year jail as he pleads guilty

    A Nigerian Instagram influencer, Ramon Abass, popularly called Hushpuppi has pleaded guilty to charges filed against him by the United States government bothering on money laundering.

    Recall that the 38-year-old man, who was made popular by his luxurious lifestyle on social media, was arrested in Dubai by Emerati police officers and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operatives in June 2020 and was subsequently extradited to the United States.

    Hushpuppi who was also accused of internet fraud now risks 20-year jail term when declared guilty.

    His guilty plea bargain was filed at a U.S. Central District Court of California.

    It was signed by Hushpuppi, his lawyer, Louis Shapiro, and the Assistant United States Attorney, Anil Antony, on July 4.

  • More troubles for Hushpuppi as new evidence is submitted against him

    More troubles for Hushpuppi as new evidence is submitted against him

    New evidence has been submitted against popular alleged internet fraudster, Ramoni Abbass, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

    Hushpuppi was arrested weeks ago for allegedly defrauding over 1.9 million people to the tune of over 168 billion naira.

    The new evidence shows how he used his personal email to register on a website “whizzlog” which is a market place for buying US bank logs and money laundering.

    Hushpuppi pleaded not guilty to the four-count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. In June, the Hushpuppy was flaunting an opulent lifestyle on social media and was shortly arrested in Dubai by special operatives of the Emirati police and American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    RELATED POSTS:

    Hushpuppi arraigned in Californian court, set to face trial

    Hushpuppi denied bail despite defense by expensive lawyer Gal Pissetky

    FBI kidnapped Hushpuppi– Lawyer says

  • Hushpuppi arraigned in Californian court, set to face trial

    Hushpuppi arraigned in Californian court, set to face trial

    Instagram personality and alleged Internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas widely known as “Hushpuppi“, has been arraigned in an American court in California as his trial set to begin on October 13.

    Hushpuppi pleaded not guilty to the four-count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. In June, the Hushpuppy was flaunting an opulent lifestyle on social media and was shortly arrested in Dubai by special operatives of the Emirati police and American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    In July, Hushpuppi alongside Olalekan Ponle, commonly known as Woodberry, was arrested to Chicago in the United States where he was first arraigned.

    However, because the U.S. Court in Illinois does not have jurisdiction over the case, he was assigned to Los Angeles, a city in California.

    Since his transfer to California late July, he has been held in the custody of the U.S. Marshal in federal penitentiary. Meanwhile, the prosecutor kickstarted the method of arraignment by filing necessary documents and forms after his first appearance on August 17.

    After the pre-trial services, Hushpuppi began a plea, insisting that he is not guilty of the charges.

    In the documents received, he agreed to go to trial with his lawyer, Vicki Podberesky, a top-rated lawyer in California.

    Mrs Podberesky will be aided by Gal Pissetzky, a Chicago-based lawyer appearing pro hac vice because he is not licensed to practise outside Chicago. Nonetheless, he has pleaded that he should be prosecuted with a complaint and not an indictment.

  • Hushpuppi denied bail despite defense by expensive lawyer Gal Pissetky

    Hushpuppi denied bail despite defense by expensive lawyer Gal Pissetky

    Despite employing the services of one of the world’s most expensive laywers, Gal Pissetky, suspected Nigerian fraudster Ramon Abbas aka Hushupuppi, has failed to win bail in the US.

    The 37 year old Mr Abbas, known to millions on social media as Hushpuppi, was arrested in Dubai and taken to the US.

    His bail application failed after his lawyers claimed his job as an Instagram celebrity paid for the $10,000 monthly rent on his luxury Dubai flat.

    There he is accused of laundering millions of dollars from crimes including cyber heists, frauds, and an attempt to cheat an English Premier League club out of £100 million (Dh461.1m/$125.5m).

    Mr Abbas appeared by video in a Chicago court on Thursday, where his lawyers applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with the uncle of a woman with whom the Instagram star had a child, the court was told.

    Prosecutors said he could commit crimes with just a smartphone and an internet connection, and that he posed too much of a flight risk.

    Mr Abbas, who was identified on phone contacts with an alleged conspirator as Billionaire Gucci Master, lived in the five-star Palazzo Versace hotel in Dubai, wore high-end clothing, and posed with luxury cars and private jets.

    He has been accused of being the money-launderer for a gang involved in hacking corporate emails and directing huge payments to accounts they controlled.

    But Mr Abbas’s lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, said his client had too much to lose to flee the country.

    “He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity,” he told a judge in Chicago by videolink.

    “I don’t see the reason why he would want to ruin his credibility in the world and his status rather than stay here and face this allegation.

    Anywhere he goes, people will know.”

    “Having grown up very poor in Nigeria, Mr Abbas is now paid to pose with high-priced items such as Louis Vuitton bags that people would buy after seeing his posts on Instagram, Mr Pissetzky said.

    “He is an influencer,” he said. “That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job.”

    Judge Jeffrey Gilbert, denied bail for Mr Abbas, who watched proceedings from a prison video link.

    Mr Gilbert said he was satisfied that Mr Abbas was a flight risk and he would remain in custody until he was taken to a court in California.

    “You’ve got to be doing something to pay $10,000 for an apartment in Dubai,” he said.

  • U.S judge denies Hushpuppi bail

    U.S judge denies Hushpuppi bail

    Nigerian influencer Ramon Abbas, known online as ‘hushpuppi’ and ‘The Billionaire Gucci Master’ was denied bail and told by a judge on Monday in Chicago that he will remain detained until his trial later this year over money laundering allegations.

    Appearing at a detention hearing, a court in the Northern District of Illinois ruled that Abbas will be transported to Los Angeles by the U.S. Marshals Service, and will not be allowed to stay with his girlfriend’s uncle in Homewood, Illinois. His trial is slated to be held in Los Angeles where the case was filed, rather from Chicago where the investigation is being handled.

    Throughout the hearing Abbas’s lawyer denied that his client was a flight risk or a danger to the community, repeatedly rejecting the allegations made against his client by the FBI’s affidavit posted earlier this month. The primary allegation leveled by the FBI is that Abbas was part of a network that made “hundreds of millions of dollars” from business email compromise frauds and other scams.

  • FBI kidnapped Hushpuppi– Lawyer says

    FBI kidnapped Hushpuppi– Lawyer says

    Gal Pissetzky who legally represents Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi has said that the action of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, to extradite his client from Dubai to the US is an act of kidnap.

    Speaking to BBC, Pissetzky said that his client is not a citizen of the and so the FBI lacks the right to extradite him from Dubai to the US.

    Pissetzky, said, “In my opinion, the FBI and the government here acted illegally when they kidnapped him from Dubai without any legal process to do so.

    “There was no extradition, there were no legal steps taken, there were no court documents filed, it was simply a call to the FBI. He is not a citizen of the United States, the US had absolutely no authority to take him.”

    Pissetzky had earlier stated that Hushpuppi is not a fraudster as widely claimed. According to him, he’s into real estates.

    Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai for fraud in the tune of N168 billion.

  • American business magazine, Forbes talks about including Hushpuppi in list of billionaires

    American business magazine, Forbes talks about including Hushpuppi in list of billionaires

    Forbes magazine has said that Ramoni Abbas aka Hushpuppi is not included in their list of billionaires in the world.

    This was after it was realized that his fraudulent activities earned him and his gang N168 billion after defrauding 1.9 million people.

    “Forbes does not currently include Abbas on our list of the World’s Billionaires,” the magazine said.

    An interview the magazine had with Hushpuppi’s lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, sees Hushpuppi declared innocent and that he got his wealth from Real Estate.

    “Absolutely not guilty of (the) charges they are accusing him of,” adding, “(he) was running a legitimate business and a very legitimate Instagram account and did not take part in any scam or fraud”, Pissetzky said.

    Asked how Abbas paid for his lifestyle, Pissetzky said, “He’s an entrepreneur. He has real estate involvement … (he’s) an Instagram personality. He was promoting brands and that’s how he was very legitimately making his money.”