The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday said Nigerian Internet celebrity, Ramoni Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi, who was arrested by Interpol recently, also has “considerable cases of cyber crimes being investigated by the commission.”
Recall that Hushpuppi, who is known to flaunt his wealth and lavish lifestyle on social media, was arrested on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in United Arab Emirates, by the International Police (INTERPOL) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation( FBI), in connection with a $35million ventilator scam.
It was alleged that he diverted the $35 million fund which was for the supply of ventilators to a state in the United States of America.
The EFCC in a statement issued on Thursday evening said “The Commission is familiar with grisly details of his money laundering transactions, involving many high-profile cyber criminals facing trial in Nigeria.
“The Commission is engaging with the FBI in tracing victims of his fraudulent transactions and other fraudsters having direct involvement with him. Local cyber criminals with money laundering networks with him, are also being investigated.”
Also, the INTERPOL had a week ago, disclosed that plans were underway to repatriate Hushpuppi to Nigeria to come and face fresh charges.
According to Police Commissioner (CP) INTERPOL, Garba Umar, who revealed this to newsmen while confirming the arrest of Hushpuppi noted that: “It is true that Hushpuppi was arrested by the INTERPOL. We are currently working on bringing him to Nigeria to face charges of fraud.
“Some of the offences were committed here in Nigeria and he has to answer for them. He is not alone in it; there are accomplices in the country who we are currently on their trail.”
He was also alleged to have hacked into the United States (US) unemployed database and impersonating citizens qualified for unemployment funds.
He was arrested three days after he posted a picture of his newly acquired 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan worth about N280 million, the latest addition to his fleet of exotic vehicles.
Recall that last year, another Nigerian internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, known as Mompha, was similarly arrested by the FBI over allegation of fraud amounting to $5 million.
On March 9, this year, 13 Nigerians and 11 others were also charged with $30 million fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice.
