More details about the legal proceedings and witnesses accounts of the ongoing fraud trial of internet sensation Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas have emerged.
Among those who testify for Abbas and also made a case for a mild punishment of the alleged swindler are Islamic clerics from Nigeria.
In the letter sent to the United States district judge handling the ongoing fraud trial, one of the clerics described the Instagram sensation as a philanthropist who used his massive wealth for betterment of his people and also advancement of the cause of humanity.
Imam Rasaq Olopede of Madrasat Ridwanu L’Hai- L-Aroyibat Wal Islamiyat Imisi-Oluwa Mosque in Lagos stood as a character witness for Mr Abbas before Otis D. Wright, who said he would deliver judgment in the matter on November 7.
According to Olopede, Abbas supported poor families, Muslims and Islamic projects.
Abbas has been a “young and thriving adult with a keen interest for development of his community,” Olopede said in an October 8, 2022, letter to Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles.
The cleric described Hushpuppi as “a frequent donator to the mosque I lead,” adding that “Ramon would usually contribute his part to anything that concerns the mosque; he would offer financial support at every given time when the mosque was holding events.”
“He, at different times, donated to the mosque, just like he did when he bought a generator set for the mosque,” Mr Olopede said.
Similarly, Hudu Abdulrasak, another Islamic cleric, wrote from a Borno madrasa that Abbas “has lent hands of assistance to many in our community through provision of borehole, water well, payment of school fees, supporting of feeding programmes,” among others.
After stating how Abass assisted widows and orphans in the war-ravaged Borno region, Mr Abdulrasak said: “We hereby plead and pray to your honour to kindly put the above-stated into consideration when tempering justice.”
The clerics expressed dismay at Mr Abbas’ descent into crime but stressed that his good deeds should be emphasised at sentencing.
Abbas has been in U.S. custody since he was extradited from Dubai in mid-2020, languishing in prison amid fears he might constitute a flight risk.
Abbas will be sentenced on November 7 after his lawyers initially delayed his sentencing hoping it would give his legal team enough time to contest the 11 years’ jail recommended by the prosecutors.
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