The lawmaker who represented the Kogi West senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye has sent a message to those sharing his pictures with suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
KanyiDaily recalls that Dino Melaye has been rumoured to be one of those that will be indicted in Hushpuppi’s case after Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
A Nigerian investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo had alleged that Hushpuppi named Dino Melaye, Linda Ikeji, and Daddy Freeze as accomplices in his alleged multi-million dollar fraud.
The former lawmaker was alleged to be guilty of the accusation leveled against them by the fraudster who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering in the United States.
Reacting to the allegations on his Twitter page, Melaye said Nigerians do not have any reason not to post his pictures with Hushpuppi online.
“There was never a time l asked people not to post my pictures with Hushpuppi or anyone for that matter because there is no reason to.
“ I am a political celebrity, please continue posting jare. Wetin bird chop na im e go carry fly,” Melaye wrote.
KanyiDaily had reported how Hushpuppi was arrested in the United Arab Emirate, Dubai on June 10, 2020, alongside 11 of his associates over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, and identity theft.
The fraudster was subsequently extradited to the US after the UAE police detailed his arrest in a special operation dubbed ‘Fox Hunt 2’ where he was accused of defrauding over 1.9 million victims to the tune of $435.6 million (N168 billion).
On July 4, 2020, Hushpuppi was charged with the conspiracy to commit money laundering before a US court, an offense that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment if convicted.
The fraudster is now exploring a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering in the multi-million-dollar fraud charges filed against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (USAO).