Suspected Nigerian fraudster, Ray Hushpuppi, who was recently arrested in his house alongside accomplice, woodberry, in Dubai by authorities then extradited to the US, before his arrest reportedly paid whooping N4.5 million naira ($10,000) monthly rent to retain his apartment and luxury lifestyle.
The Popular Instagram sensation, Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Igbalode, is alleged to have been involved in business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams that laundered hundreds of millions of dollars .
Gal Pissetzky, Hushpuppi’s lawyers, in his defense, revealed that his job as an Instagram socialite is what pays for his $10,000 monthly rent on his luxury Dubai flat. They had applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with the uncle of a woman with whom he has a child with, but US prosecutors opposed the bail application.
His lawyers said,
“He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity.
“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.
“He is an influencer. That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job.”
Hushpuppi is reported to have been denied bail in the United States in spite of his lawyer, Gal Pissetzky insisting that his job as an Instagram celebrity pays for his expenditures.