By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Suspected celebrity fraudster, Ramon Abbass, popularly known as Hushpuppi has been denied bail in the United States for being a flight risk.
Hushpuppi is facing multiple fraud charges in the United States where he was extradited to from Dubai.
His lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, had shocked many last week when he claimed that Hushpuppi earned his billions from Instagram.
The Dubai Police had said that the suspected fraudster conned 1.9 million victims of N169 billion.
Until his arrest in Dubai, Hushpuppi lived in an apartment which he pays a monthly rent of $10,000 (N3.6 million).
But Pissetzky insisted that his client earns legitimate income from being an Instagram Celebrity.
“He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity.
“I don’t see the reason why he would want to ruin his credibility in the world and his status rather than stay here and face this allegation.
“Anywhere he goes, people will know. Having grown up very poor in Nigeria, Mr Abbas is now paid to pose with high-priced items such as Louis Vuitton bags that people would buy after seeing his posts on Instagram.
“He is an influencer. That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job.”
Pissetzky, had applied for bail for Hushupuppi, saying that the FBI could put an ankle monitor on him while he lives with the uncle of a woman he has a baby with. But US prosecutors opposed the bail application.
The prosecutors said that Hushpuppi poses a flight risk and could commit a crime with just a smartphone and an internet connection.
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert refused Hushpuppi bail on grounds of him being a flight risk.
The judge ordered that Hushpuppi be remanded in custody until he is taken to a court in California.
