Hushpuppi: 3 Nigerians Arrested, Abba Kyari, 2 Others On FBI List

 

More revelations have be made by the United States government since the arrest of Nigerian big boy, Hushpuppi.

 

A report by the FBI revealed that Nigerian supercop, Abba Kyari got involved in the matter following the swindling of a Qatari man of $1.1m.

 

Four other Nigerians and a Kenyan involved in the scam have already been arrested.

 

Among the Nigerians, is Deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari, whose arrest by the FBI has reportedly been ordered by Judge Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

 

This is despite Kyari’s denial that he collected money from Hushpuppi to do a hatchet job by arresting 40 year-old Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, a partner in the fraud.

 

Vincent is also now wanted in the case as FBI said three people in Africa are wanted, after the arrest of three U.S. based Nigerians.

 

The third person wanted is a Kenyan.

 

According to a statement by U.S. Attorney’s office in central California, a federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

 

The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants, the Nigerians, who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

 

The indicted three in Africa are Abba Kyari, Vincent and the Kenyan Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul.

 

The three Nigerians based in the U.S., who have been arrested in the case are Yusuf Adeyinka Anifowoshe, Rukayat Motunraya Fashola and Tawakalitu Agbabiaka.

 

The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case. Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20. A version of Abbas’ plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

 

 

According to the indictment, Abbas allegedly conspired with Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance construction of the planned school. Juma allegedly posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusory bank loans, while Abbas played the role of “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker in New York, according to court documents. Vincent, in turn, allegedly provided support for the false narratives fed to the victim by, among other things, creating bogus documents and arranging for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line.

 

Yusuf Adekinka Anifowoshe, a.k.a. “AJ,” 26, of Brooklyn, New York, allegedly played a role in the fraud, assisting Abbas with a call to the victim posing as “Malik.” Special agents with the FBI arrested Anifowoshe in New York on July 22.

 

The conspirators allegedly defrauded the victim out of more than $1.1 million.

 

The proceeds of the fraud allegedly were laundered in several ways. According to the indictment, Abbas was assisted in laundering the proceeds of the fraud by Rukayat Motunraya Fashola, a.k.a. “Morayo,” 28, of Valley Stream, New York, and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka, a.k.a. “Bolamide,” 34, of Linden, New Jersey. These two defendants also were arrested on July 22 by FBI agents.

 

Approximately $230,000 of the stolen funds allegedly were used to purchase a Richard Mille RM11-03 watch, which was hand delivered to Abbas in Dubai and subsequently appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts. Other illicit proceeds from the scheme were allegedly converted into cashier’s checks, including $50,000 in checks that were used by Abbas and a co-conspirator to fraudulently acquire a St. Christopher and Nevis citizenship, as well as a passport for Abbas obtained by creating a false marriage certificate and then bribing a government official in St. Kitts.

 

Court documents outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria. 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.

 

Anifowoshe, Fashola and Agbabiaka were arrested in New York and New Jersey on July 22, and they are expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in August. All three are currently free on bond.