There were reports on Friday that Hushpuppi had been sentenced to 11 years in prison in the United States, but according to the BBC, the report is fake.

Hushpuppi is a suspected Nigerian internet fraudster arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020 and was extradited to the United States on July 3. He was arrested for defrauding over 1.9 million people, the majority of them being Americans.

The 37 years old had pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him.

An earlier statement by the acting United States Attorney Tracy Wilkinson revealed that Hushpuppi and his accomplice faked the financing of a school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website. He was also alleged to have bribed foreign officials to keep the elaborate pretence.

In October, 2022, the trial judge, Otis Wright, of the US Central District Court in California postponed the sentencing to Monday, November 7, 2022.

“Counsels are notified, the sentencing is continued to November 7, 2022 at 11.30 am. as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court announcement shifting the sentencing read.

 Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai by a joint team of Dubai Police and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 2020 for alleged fraud on different victims, including American citizens.

Hushpuppi was then extradited and charged with multiple counts of hacking, impersonation, scamming banking fraud, and identity theft.

Meanwhile, the suspected internet fraudster’s account with @hushpuppi as his username has about 2.8 million followers, 827 following and 540 posts showcasing his extravagant lifestyle.

Despite being arrested and tried, Instagram permitted Hushpuppi to share videos and photos on the platform once he does not represent dangerous organisations or individuals.

However, the social media platform seems to have reviewed the decision to allow Hushpuppi’s account to remain active.

Recall that Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June 2020 with 12 accomplices over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, and identity theft, and thereafter extradited to the US for prosecution.

His extradition to the US was hinged after the UAE police detailed his arrest where he was accused of defrauding 1.9 million victims to the tune of N168billion.

In July 2021, he agreed to plead guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges slammed against him by the American government.

He then entered into a plea bargain agreement with the US government in July 2021 in the expectation of getting a lighter punishment.

However, the trial judge, Otis Wright, has fixed November 7, 2022, as the new date to rule on Hushpuppi’s case.

“Counsels are notified, the sentencing is continued to November 7, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court’s announcement shifting the sentencing read.

The sentencing hearing was initially deferred by Judge Wright from 14 February to 11 July before shifting it to 21 September and now 7 November.

This was disclosed to Channels Television via email by the court’s Director of Media Relations, Thom Mrozek, on Friday.

Hushpuppi’s sentence date had been moved three times since his conviction in 2021. Valentine’s February 14 date was first chosen for his sentencing before it was postponed to July 11, and now September 21.

The court official, Thom Mrozek, said Hushpuppi, who had pleaded guilty to the alleged $1.1m fraud last year, “…is currently scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge in Los Angeles on September 21.”

He was arrested in Dubai in June 2020 alongside 12 others and extradited to the US for prosecution.

The probe also indicates that Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, equally funnelled N44m to his brother’s bank account in multiple transactions.

However, the investigation report obtained by our correspondent on Monday, failed to disclose whether Kyari’s brother was acting as a proxy for his embattled elder brother who is currently in custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The DCP, who was suspended by the police last July for his alleged links to Hushpuppi, allegedly attempted to sell part of the cocaine which was seized from some drug dealers in Enugu, while he was on suspension.

The investigation report which was submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation disclosed that a total of N279.120m flowed to the younger Kyari’s bank account at various times from the cyber scam syndicate members-Efe Martins (lead coordinator), Sikiru Adekoya, Usman Ibrahim, and Hussaini Ala.

It stated, “Sikiru Adekoya has many times received money from Hushpuppi and Efe and has equally transferred money to Usman Ibrahim. Adekoya after initial denial of having any financial transaction with both Hushpuppi and Efe Martins eventually admitted receiving various sums of money through transfers into his GTBank.

‘’However, he could not offer reasonable explanations of what the sums were meant for and what he did with the monies. The network of Hushpuppi Internet fraud syndicate consists of Efe Martins as the lead coordinator who through his company, Efe Martins Integrated Concept Ltd., has at various times transferred different sums of money to Sikiru Adekoya, Usman Waziri Ibrahim, Hussaini Ala.A junior brother to DCP Kyari is a major beneficiary of funds from the Zenith Bank account of Hussaini Ala from where he at different times received various sums totaling N218, 120, 000. He also received the sum of N44m in multiple transactions from DCP Abba Kyari.’’

He was taken into custody by the NDLEA alongside four officers after he was indicted for dealing in drugs by the police.

His accomplices include Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.

Curiously, the Special Investigation Panel which authored the report did not invite or interrogate Kyari’s brother about the huge sums of money deposited into his bank account by the fraud syndicate and the DCP.

In its recommendations, the Force Disciplinary Committee which reviewed the SIP investigation report indicted Kyari for violating the social media policy of the Nigeria Police Force by responding to the Federal Bureau of Intelligence’s indictment on his Facebook page without recourse to laid down procedures. Committee accuses Kyari of hobnobbing with fraudulent characters, violating the police professional ethics. For hobnobbing with fraudulent characters and violating the police professional ethics, the committee awarded Kyari the punishment of reduction in rank from DCP to ACP, stating that “the evidence of (N8mn) bribe is circumstantial in that the bribe mainly was not paid into the officer’s account nor was any proceeds of the bribe traced by the panel much less linking the officer to any such proceeds.’’

Kyari was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the fraud case against Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi in the US.

The indictment was followed by an order for his arrest. This was issued to the FBI by the United States Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California.

Reacting, Ozekhome who spoke to Arise News on Monday stated that the FBI can’t just come to Nigeria to arrest Kyari without going through an extradition process.

According to him, “When America demanded Abba Kyari, I heard people say FBI can now arrest Abba Kyari. No, you cannot do that. Nigeria is a sovereign country for crying out loud, no matter how down in the doldrums we have become. FBI cannot simply come here and pick up Abba Kyari. You must go through the extradition process as established in the Extradition Act of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004. You have to look at Sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the extradition act. In 1963, Chief Anthony Enahoro was being looked for by the Federal Government of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa. They accused him alongside Obafemi Awolowo and others of committing a treasonable felony. Enahoro found his way to London through Ghana. He ran away. So, the Labour Party with its new head, Harold Wilson made it a big deal and using the media very heavily to clamour that Enahoro is not extradited to Nigeria. But the government of Harold Mcmillan who was the Minister was caught in between and in betwixt as to the respect for human rights of Anthony Enahoro and not to hurt Nigeria as a political deal. But at the end of the day, Enahoro was extradited to Nigeria and he was tried and jailed for 15 years. It was the Gowon regime that released him and Awolowo and put them in key positions in government so as to drive the country’s progress. So, extradition, therefore, did not start today. Going through extradition, the Attorney General of the country has a crucial role to play under the Extradition Act, he and a magistrate, or under Section 251 of the Constitution, a judge of a federal high court. The country requesting for extradition, like the US, must make a formal request through its consular or representative in Nigeria, that we want this man in our country.”

Kyari has been accused of receiving bribes from the Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi to arrest and jail a member of his online fraud gang identified as Chibuzo Vincent following a dispute that arose from a $1.1m fraudulent operation the carried out. Kyari was also accused of allegedly sending Abbas bank account details to deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner in charge of Media on the board of the Police Service Commission, Austin Braimoh, said the PSC would not be bound by the IG’s review of the allegations against Kyari, noting that the commission would carry out a further probe on whatever findings the police authorities made on Kyari. He added that the commission’s findings would determine Kyari’s future in the police force.

He said “The commission won’t say anything until we get the official report. We are the final decision-maker on his fate as a police officer. Everything concerning his indictment can be investigated and the criminal aspect of it can be sent to the law court but on the official aspect concerning discipline; no other body has the power to do anything to him as a police officer, it is only the commission that has such powers. So, the commission is awaiting the full report of the investigation and his indictment and we will treat it officially; we would apply the law. The law will determine the various punishments that we can award against him. He can be dismissed depending on the gravity of the offence; we can demote him, reduce his rank; we can suspend him. Many things are laid out before us pertaining to various offences and after that, the criminal aspect would be referred to the court for prosecution. It depends on how the report is coming; whether it is coming to us directly for us to extricate the criminal aspect and treat it or they want to treat it and refer the official one to us to discipline him. We don’t always believe the police should investigate the police (personnel) except through the commission. But the important thing is that whatever thing they decide to do, we are not obliged to accept their investigations. So, our investigation department would still go further to get the facts. What we know they would do is that a query would be issued based on the complaints against him, he would be asked to defend himself and then, he would face what we call the Force Disciplinary Committee which would interrogate him and the report is passed to the DIG in charge and from there to the IG. The IG would basically forward the final findings and recommendations to the commission. The commission would now carry on with their own investigation; we have to re-investigate what they have done to ensure that they comply with the rule of law and what is expected. Our lawyer would look into it, he would check the facts and if we feel there is negligence and that some things are not done, we would do a thorough job and eventually, we would have recommendations from the standing committee to the plenary for a final decision and our decision is final on his career.’’

Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai in July 2020 for a multi-millionaire dollar fraud perpetrated by him and members of his syndicate. This week he pleaded guilty to various offences bordering on internet scam, money laundering, among others.

His plea bargain document which was released online this week was signed by Hushpuppi, his lawyer, Loius Shapiro; and Acting United States Attorney, Tracy Wilkison, among others.

A top source in the EFCC who spoke with SaharaReporters however said no arrest can be made by the agency since Kyari is a police officer and that the case was not within the capacity of the EFCC but for the police to handle.

the source in the EFCC said “FBI has contacted EFCC, asking that we arrest Abba Kyari but we told them that it is a police matter”

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has ordered an internal review of all the allegations levelled against Kyari by Hushpuppi.

The suspected internet fraudster who was arrested in Dubai in June 2020 allegedly told the FBI that he gave a bribe to Kyari to facilitate the arrest and imprisonment of a member of his online fraud gang identified as Chibuzo Vincent. Kyari has however denied this allegation.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Abba Kyari, a high-ranking Nigerian police officer who has received multiple honours, was one of six people indicted over an elaborate scheme to defraud a Qatari businessperson of more than $1 million, masterminded by celebrity fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

The FBI revealed this in an affidavit issued before the United States District Court by a Special Agent with the FBI, Andrew John Innocenti. The FBI said that Kyari abandoned his duties in Nigeria sometime in 2019 and flew to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to “enjoy a good time” with Hushpuppi, who lived at Palazzo Versace in the Emirati commercial capital.

The FBI special agent said Huspuppi appeared to have first interacted with Mr Kyari during the police officer’s trip to Dubai in September 2019.

He said conversations between them showed that Hushpuppi sent a car and a driver to drive Mr Kyari around in Dubai.

“Soon thereafter, KYARI sent ABBAS a video slideshow which showed some personal photographs of KYARI, some of which appeared to have been taken in the U.A.E,” Mr Innocenti added.

He said further that later in September “after KYARI sent ABBAS an article that discussed him arresting alleged kidnappers, ABBAS wrote, in part, to KYARI, ‘Am really happy to be ur boy,’ and later, ‘I promise to be a good boy to u sir’.”

FBI Special Agent, Innocenti, said in the court documents: “I reviewed online articles about KYARI, which indicated that KYARI is an Inspector General of the Police’s Intelligence Response Team and a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nigeria. KYARI previously managed the Special Anti- Robbery Squad, commonly known as SARS, as the Officer-In-Charge for several years. Articles referred to KYARI as a ‘super cop’ of the Nigeria Police Force, and described him as ‘The Most Decorated Officer In The History Of The Nigerian Police.’

“KYARI has been awarded many accolades, including recognition for his performance by the Nigerian House of Representatives in June 2020, which KYARI informed ABBAS of via the news article discussed above.

“I also reviewed other articles, from October and November 2020, which indicated that KYARI had been accused of falsely arresting and extorting a businessman in Lagos. Based on those articles, KYARI’s work, in general, appears to have related primarily to kidnapping cases, and I did not see any articles suggesting that KYARI worked on fraud cases.

“Finally, I have reviewed a certified NIV application submitted by ABBA ALHAJI KYARI, in April 2019. This application included one of the aforementioned phone numbers (0909999****) that KYARI used to communicate with ABBAS, as well as a date of birth in March of 1975, and KYARI’s Nigerian passport number ending in 3677. The NIV application also included the following photograph, which is consistent with the other photographs of KYARI shown above:

“Based on messages I reviewed, ABBAS appears to have first interacted with KYARI in September 2019, when KYARI travelled to the U.A.E. The conversation indicated that ABBAS sent a car and driver to drive KYARI during that trip. Soon thereafter, KYARI sent ABBAS a video slideshow which showed some personal photographs of KYARI, some of which appeared to have been taken in the U.A.E. Later in September, after KYARI sent ABBAS an article that discussed him arresting alleged kidnappers, ABBAS wrote, in part, to KYARI, ‘Am really happy to be ur boy,’ and later, ‘I promise to be a good boy to u, sir,'” the affidavit read.

Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to a police officer, Abba Kyari, and produce him in the United States for his alleged role in a $1.1 million fraud.

US court documents showed that American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021.

Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.

It was further gathered that Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Kyari and hold him in US custody was unsealed on July 26, 2021.