From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
Mr. Gal Pissetzky and Ms. Vicki Podberesky, counsels to the Nigerian born Instagram influencer, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, otherwise known as Hushpuppi have recently withdrawn their appearance to the defendant for lack of communication.
Abass is currently being charged with conspiracy and money laundering in the United States.
According to the Lawyers, the decision to withdraw from the case stems from the sudden stop in communication between them and the accused Abbas who claimed to have hired another Lawyer.
It would be recalled that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol and Dubai Police had in June, 2020 raided the apartment of Hushpuppi at the Palazzo Versace in an operation code-named Fox Hunt 2 where he was arrested alongside eleven others.
Before his arrest, Abbas was popularly recognised as Instagram influencer with over 2.5 million global followers.
Recall he had through his Instagram account posted pictures and videos of his exotic cars, watches, designer clothes, bags from luxury brands like Gucci, Fendi and Louis Vuitton and of himself boarding private jets with celebrity, footballers and Nigerian politicians.
However, after the raid, Detectives seized more than 150 million dirham (about $40 million) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth Dh 25 million ($7M), 21 laptops, 47 smartphones, 15 memory storage devices, 5 external hard drives and 800,000 emails of potential victims alongside suitcases full of cash were seized.
Furthermore, Mr Abbas alongside Olalekan Ponle, popularly known as Woodberry, was in July extradited to Chicago in the United States where they were first arraigned.
The case was later transferred to Los Angeles, a city in California as U. S Court in Illinois does not have jurisdiction over the case, where his trial will begin in May.
Announcing their withdrawal, Mr. Pissetzky said, “since Mr Abbas’ arrest and arrival in the Central District of California, I have received voluminous discovery from the government and have been diligently reviewing it and investigating the allegations in this matter.”
Pissetzky added further that, “My communications with Mr Abbas are by telephone given my inability to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles due to the pandemic. Ms. Podberesky, as local counsel, has made several visits to see Mr Abbas at the Santa Ana Jail and has also communicated with him by telephone”
“I, through Ms. Podberesky, have provided Mr Abbas with a copy of the discovery, reviewed it with him, and had numerous conferences with Mr Abbas telephonically, and Ms Podberesky has also met with him in-person to discuss the case. We discussed with Mr Abbas the potential theories that might be available to him at trial, pre-trial motions, the sentencing guidelines and the potential of a plea agreement.” He said.
Pissetzky said, “after months of discussions with Mr. Abbas and negotiations with the government, Mr Abbas now refuses to effectively communicate with me.”
“I have made numerous attempts through family and jail staff to have Mr Abbas call me to discuss critical issues. Mr Abbas, however, has not communicated with me. Both family and jail staff have told me that they have conveyed my messages to Mr Abbas to call me,” the lawyer stated.
Mr Pissetzky further affirmed that he received a telephone call from Abbas, informing him of the decision to retain a new counsel.
“He informed me that he is retaining new counsel. I informed him that I and Ms. Podberesky were moving to withdraw given his refusal to communicate and cooperate with us,” the lawyer added.
G2al Pissetzky and Vicki Podberesky, application for withdrawal will be heard by the court on February 22, 2021.
