By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The news that Interpol has arrested flamboyant Instagram big boy, Hushpuppi, on June 9, has generated huge reactions on the social media.
On Twitter alone, 115,000 people have made comments on the arrest, making it the top Nigerian trend.
Fox news had reported the arrest of a Nigerian fraud syndicate without mentioning the name of Hushpuppi. But on the social media, those who claimed to know Hushpuppi said he was among the people arrested for masterminding a scam to steal hundreds of millions of dollars meant for payment to Americans as palliative to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
His reported arrest has not come as a surprise to many Nigerians who have been following him on the social media.
In 2018, political activist, Deji Adeyanju, had called him out for not having any known means of livelihood, and asked the EFCC to arrest him. Hushpuppi later claimed he deals in Real Estate.
After Hushpuppi’s reported arrest, a social media influencer, @aproko_doctor, said: “I’m happy that Hushpuppi has been caught. A lot of young people who wanted his levels of questionable wealth, at least now they know there are consequences.”
Another tweet from @thesasquatch fumed: “Hushpuppi had the audacity to tell us he posts his flashy lifestyle to motivate me wey dey office dey wear suit and tie to work harder. God will judge him,” he said.
For @thahypocrite, he counseled other Nigerians: “The blessings of God maketh rich and added no sorrow. For all who tap into Hushpuppi blessings, do you also tap into the sorrowful part that is about to play out now. Get rich quick mentality kills. The average Nigerian wants to go to bed and wake up a #Hushpuppi! Be wise,” he said.
Who is Hushpuppi
His birth name is Raymond Igbalodely. Not much is known about him, even his date of birth can’t be found on the internet. But he is likely to be in his early 30’s.
He claims to be a Nigerian. His background is also not known, except for what another social media celebrity who is also facing fraud charges said that Hushuppi’s father was a Lagos based taxi driver.
His net worth is not exactly known, but from the pictures he shares on Istagram of his Rolls Royce, customized Range Rover, his penchant for hopping on private jets, cruising in yachts and feasting in some of the world’s best restaurants, he may be worth hundreds of millions of Naira.
