Richard Ginika Izuora
Ray Hushpuppi whose extravaganza landed him in his current ordeal is currently standing trial in the United States.
He is accused of fraud and cybercrime-related offences.
Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, was said to have spent about $230,000 (over N115,000,000) on a Richard Mille wristwatch.
Hushpuppi was arrested in the UAE in June 2020 alongside 11 of his associates over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, as well as identity theft. His extradition to the US came after the UAE Police announced his celebrated arrest in a special operation dubbed Fox Hunt 2; in which he was accused of defrauding 1.9 million victims to the tune of N168 billion.
He was arraigned and detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago ahead of his trial. He had recently pleaded guilty to the money laundering charges against him and faces over 20 years in prison, if found guilty.
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ); revealed this as part of details into a fresh indictment against him.
The latest indictment, a three-count charge includes conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft; with the US DoJ also revealed that the scheme involved three US-based Nigerians who were arrested last week; as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa.
The indictment allegedly involved an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a business person attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar; as well as the subsequent laundering of the illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.
Hushpuppi was reported to have splurged $230,000 being part of the proceeds of the scam on the Richard Mille RM11-03 watch.
The luxury piece was reportedly hand delivered to Hushpuppi in Dubai. Also, it was subsequently said to have appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts, mainly on Instagram.
Nigerian Police Alleged Accomplice
Hushpuppi’s investigation has lengthened by bringing in DCP Abba Kyari; a top ranking Nigeria Police Force officer.
Oriental News Nigeria reports that already, an An arrest warrant has now been issued by a US court for Kyari after being accused of participating in the fraud.
A fallout over the sharing of the proceeds between Hushpuppi and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent; another co-conspirator on the $1.1m fraud had led to the involvement of Kyari; whom Hushpuppi accused of obtaining bribes in return for arresting and jailing Vincent after he tipped off the victim that he was being defrauded.
Kyari has, denied the allegations even as he disclosed that Vincent was picked up over a reported case of threat to life and subsequently released.
A warrant of arrest has been issued for Abba Kyari, based on court documents sighted on Thursday, July 29, by Peoples Gazette.
This warrant was issued by Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California who ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track down Abba Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, a notorious Nigerian fraudster.
Court documents further revealed that Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai last June and he pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S. this week.
The FBI said Abbas and Abba Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money.
Abba Kyari was also indicted of receiving bribes from the remanded fraudster to arrest a member of the syndicate in Nigeria.
American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest the Policeman on February 12, 2021, but Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Abba Kyari and hold him in U.S. custody was unsealed on July 26.
However, in his response via Facebook, Abba Kyari has denied any wrongdoing.
The post reads, “Friends: Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2 years ago that somebody in Nigeria seriously threatened to kill his Family here in Nigeria; and he sent the person’s Phone number and pleaded we take action before the Person attacks his family.
“We traced and arrested the Suspect and after investigations we discovered there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life. And they are long-time friends who have money issues between them; hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.”
“Nobody demanded for a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.
“Later, he saw some of my Native Clothes and Caps on my social media page…He said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes…He sent about N300k directly to the person’s account. The Native Clothes and Caps (5 sets) were brought to our office; and He sent somebody to Collect them in our office.
“We responded to a distress call he made on a threat to his family and released the Suspect; when we discovered there was no life threat from the Suspect. This is the true story. Vincent is alive, he can be contacted.”
Super cop, DCP Abba Kyari on Thursday, July 29, responded to allegations of bribe-taking from the jailed influencer, Hushpuppi after US investigators stated that the policeman was complicit in a $1.1m fraud scheme.
In a post on his verified Facebook Page, Abba Kyari stated that Hushpuppi had called his office in Abuja; alleging a threat to his life by one Chibuzo Vincent (Hushpuppi’s accomplice) about two years ago.
He said they responded to the call and got the suspect arrested.
However, Kyari disclosed that the suspect was released after discovering there was no threat to Hushpuppi’s life; but a money dispute between him and the suspect.