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July 29, 2021

July 29, 2021 IFMNEWS

Hushpuppi: US Court Orders Arrest Of Abba Kyari

A United States court has issued a warrant of arrest for a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nigeria, Abba Kyari.

According to a court document obtained by Peoples Gazette, Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi; and his co-conspirators.

An online source had earlier reported that the court said Hushpuppi used Kyari to arrest and jail a co-conspirator, Chibuzo Vincent, after the latter threatened to expose a $1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.

According to the indictment by the court, Hushpuppi allegedly conspired with five others – including Vincent – to defraud the businessperson (whose name was withheld) by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance the construction of a school in Qatar.

The document also said Hushpuppi worked with some of his partners in crime including 28-year-old Abdulrahman Juma from Kenya, and 40-year-old Chibuzo Vincent from Nigeria. Others are Yusuf Anifowoshe, 26; Rukayat Fashola, 28; and Bolatito Agbabiaka, 34.

However, Hushpuppi allegedly hunted Vincent after a dispute broke out among the team and after the latter threatened to expose the fraud to the Qatari businessman.

“According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment,” the statement partly read.

Moreso, a leader of the Inspector-General of Police’ Intelligence Response Team, explained in a Facebook post that Hushpuppi called his office and reported a death threat from someone about two years ago.

The cop said the suspect, Vincent, was arrested but later released after investigations revealed that “they are long time friends who have money issues between them”.

Kyari also said he did not receive any money from Hushpuppi.

Hushpuppi, 37, in a plea agreement document he personally signed, pleaded guilty to the charges including money laundering, wire fraud, felony amongst others. He risks 20 years’ imprisonment and other penalties when convicted.

July 29, 2021

July 29, 2021 IFM Social Media

Nigerian Scammer Hushpuppi Pleads Guilty To Fraud

Nigerian scammer Ramon Olorunwa Abbas also known as Hushpuppi has pleaded guilty to fraud in an American court.

United States Department of Justice (DoJ) in a statement on Wednesday said court documents show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20.

A date is to be fixed for Mr Abass to change his previous “not guilty” plea to “guilty” and will be followed by a sentencing hearing for the judge to determine how long he will spend in jail.

A version of Hushpuppi’s plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in a school finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said Hushpuppi allegedly 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.

Wilkison stated that Hushpuppi played “a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means.”

Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office said Hushpuppi “among the most high-profile money launderers in the world, has admitted to his significant role in perpetrating global BEC fraud, a scheme currently plaguing Americans.

“His celebrity status and ability to make connections seeped into legitimate organizations and led to several spin-off schemes in the U.S. and abroad,” Johnson said in the DoJ statement.

Hushpuppi and members of his gang were aressted while sleeping at their Dubai residences in June 2020.

The Nigerian fraudster was arrested along with Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry and 10 others.

Dubai police said 12 suspects were arrested in six simultaneous raids carried out by its e-police unit.

The police said Hushpuppi and the gang were responsible for Dh1.6 billion (about N169 billion) fraud involving over 1.9 million victims. Items worth N15.845 billion (Dh 150 million) were also seized.

13 luxury cars worth N2. 640 billion (Dh 25 million), 21 laptops, 47 smartphones, 15 memory storage devices, 5 external hard drives and 800, 000 emails of potential victims were also recovered from the gang during the arrest.

Hushpuppi and members of his gang were extradited to the United States in July 2020.

July 28, 2021

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 IFM Social Media

“The Burial Of Obi Cubana’s Mother Was lavish, Obscene And Insensitive”- Onyeka Onwenu

Nigerian music veteran Onyeka Onwenu has blasted the lavish burial socialite Obi Iyiegbu also known as Obi Cubana held for his late mother saying the burial ceremony was obscene and insensitive.

The burial tagged "Burial of the year" was the most talked-about about event for weeks in the streets and on social media.

The actress, author and music veteran made this known when she penned an article for PremiumTimes.

"I told a friend just days before the most outrageous burial of Innyom Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu in Oba, Anambra State in July that I had given my family instructions on how to bury me when my time comes. Do it quickly, quietly and privately," she wrote.

"Celebrate me with prayers, lunch, or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Mourn, yes, but not excessively."

"Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me Onyeka Onwenu."

She, however, cleared the air about her thoughts on the lavish spending during the burial, admitting that she didn't condemn the act.

"The point I make here is that there are different strokes for different folks, even within a family. I do not condemn anyone for how they mourn, with their hard-earned money but I am very uncomfortable with lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others," she wrote.

In another part of the article, she wrote about the burial being obscene and insensitive.

"The burial of Obi Cubana’s mother was not only lavish, it was obscene and insensitive. It sent all the wrong signals at a time when Nigeria is wracked with widespread poverty and lack."

July 28, 2021

July 28, 2021 IFM Social Media

Joey Jordison, Slipknot Co-Founder And Drummer Dies At 46

Joey Jordison, the co-founder of Slipknot and one of the most influential metal drummers of his generation, has died at the age of 46, his family announced.

“We are heartbroken to share the news that Joey Jordison, prolific drummer, musician and artist passed away peacefully in his sleep,” his family said Tuesday in a statement carried by Rolling Stone and multiple US media outlets.

Iowa-born Jordison was one of Slipknot’s three original members and helped power the US nine-piece to global stardom in the early 2000s during an era when rock and metal acts routinely jostled with popstars at the top of the commercial charts.

Renowned for their horror-themed facemasks and boiler suits, they burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s with a louder, bleaker and more aggressive incarnation of metal that became both a commercial success and a major influence on later generations.

Behind all the stage pantomime and shock antics was a technically proficient band propelled by Jordison’s tight high speed drumming and relentless blast beats as well as his song writing skills for some of the band’s best known tracks.

The band worked with legendary producer Rick Rubin for their third album and won their first Grammy in 2006.

But Jordison maintained his proudest personal moment was being voted the greatest drummer of the previous 25 years by readers of drumming magazine Rhythm in 2010.

In recent interviews he said he managed to get back in drumming shape through intense physical therapy.

His side projects included Murderdolls, Scar the Martyr, Vimic and Sinsaenum and he also played live drums for a host of major metal acts like Metallica, Korn and Rob Zombie.

Metallica paid tribute to Jordison, posting a photo of the drummer on their Facebook page with the caption “R.I.P. brother.”

Other prominent metal musicians posted tributes praising Jordison’s technique and the influence he had on their own bands.

“Joey’s contributions to music changed the face of heavy music on the planet as we know it,” wrote Trivium frontman Matt Heafy.

“An absolute legend who changed the game not only for drums, but metal music as a whole,” added popular metal YouTuber Nik Nocturnal.

Former Slipknot bandmates Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan both posted black squares on their Twitter accounts after news of Jordison’s death was announced.

(AFP)

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