Dubai-based Nigerian real estate developer Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi who was arrested in Dubai on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 alongside his alleged fraud squad has been transferred to the United States for further investigation and possible trial contrary to the reports that he was extradited to Nigeria.
His arrest pitted Nigerian detectives against their counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and the United States over who should have custody of him.
Hushpuppi, until his arrest has been a subject of multiple and conflicting interests between Nigeria and the United States. The US believes he has scammed more Americans than Nigerians hence they should take him away for a long time.
The Hushpuppi business cartel were arrested by Interpol and FBI over crime bothering on fraud and illegal diversion of fund meant for Covid-19.
Hushpuppi and his team were involved in a $435.6 million (AED1.6 billion) BEC scam →https://t.co/QmBoA5klaWhttps://t.co/SXnljcrgKw
— Netbuzz Africa (@netbuzzafrica) June 25, 2020
The report leading to his arrest states that the amount of money involved is over $100 million. Following Hushpuppi’s arrest, he and his accomplices were earlier involved in $50 to $60 million money laundering that was also being monitored by the US Secretive Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.
The group of six arrested in Dubai on Wednesday were finally moved out of Dubai to a secured facility in US for further interrogations. Confirmed information reaching NetbuzzAfrica.com indicates that they landed in the United States of America on June 12, 2020 at 6:45 pm.
Interpol confirmed the arrest of suspected Nigerian international fraudster Hushpuppi in the UAE earlier but it’s yet to involve the Nigerian government in the case as it suspects there could be a tall list of government officials to be named in the case.
The FBI has also launched a manhunt for all Hushpuppi’s accomplices in the alleged trans-border fraud.
The Dubai ‘Big Boy’ Hushpuppi will face multiple charges of fraud. The Interpol is also on the trail of other accomplices in the alleged fraud who are resident in Nigeria according to a statement by the Head of INTERPOL Nigeria, Garba Umar.
“It is true that Hushpuppi was arrested by the INTERPOL. We are currently working on bringing him to Nigeria to face charges of fraud. Some of the offences were committed here in Nigeria and he has to answer for them,” Garba Umar said.
Umar added that “He is not alone in it; there are accomplices in the country who we are currently on their trail.”
As it stands now, International Police (Interpol) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been working without Nigeria’s EFCC for the alleged fraud but the EFCC is hopeful and ready to assist should they be involved.
According to the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, they are yet to be involved in the case of Hushpuppi, but if they happen to give us this thing (details) we would assist.
Mr Magu believes that these internet fraudsters needs more than arrests and prosecutions.
“We are not all about arresting, prosecuting and chasing of internet fraudsters, and taking away the proceeds of their crime, but we are also trying to see whether we can rehabilitate them,” Ibrahim Magu, Acting EFCC Chairman, told Netbuzz Africa.
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