The United States Department of Justice, in a report uncovered a $1.1 million fraud deal allegedly perpetrated by popular Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, famously known as Hushpuppi.
Hushpuppi was alleged to have conspired with six others to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson who had aimed to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar.
Among the Nigerians indicted in the report is Deputy Commissioner of police, Abba Kyari.
Others indicted include, a Kenyan, Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul, Yusuf Adeyinka Anifowoshe, Rukayat Motunraya Fashola and Tawakalitu Agbabiaka.
Anifowoshe, Fashola and Agbabiaka were arrested in New York and New Jersey on July 22, and are expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in August.
According to a report by the Department of Justice, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges filed against him by the US government.
The report further explained that Hushpuppi, alongside his other conspirators faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off.
Kyari, who is a celebrated police operative in Nigeria was alleged to have been involved in the fraud scheme.
The DCP was said to have allegedly collected an undisclosed fund from Hushpuppi to arrest one Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, a who wanted to foil the effort of his team members due to a dispute.
A fight was said to have broke out amid the conspiracy as Vincent who claimed to be a consultant and banker in the fraud scheme disagreed with Hushpuppi over the sharing formula of the money.
The dispute between the conspirators escalated when Vincent later informed the victim that Hushpuppi is a fraudster.
Hushpuppi, in move to retaliate, contacted Abba Kyari, to help arrest and jail Vincent.
According to the report, Hushpuppi transferred an undisclosed fund to the account of Kyari after the police officer sent him the photos of Vincent in prison.
The FBI has reportedly been ordered by Judge Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California to arrest Kyari.
According to legal experts, Kyari risks a 20-year jail term if convicted of the conspiracy counts.
However, the DCP had denied the allegation, describing it as false and fictitious.
Kyari who took to his Facebook account stated that he is focused on protecting people’s lives rather than defrauding people.
