I didn’t know Hushpuppi was into fraud – Davido

Afrobeats star Davido has opened up about his former association with Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, admitting they were once friends but claiming he had no knowledge of Abbas’s involvement in fraud.

Afrobeats star Davido has opened up about his former association with Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, admitting they were once friends but claiming he had no knowledge of Abbas’s involvement in fraud.

In a recent podcast appearance, Davido reflected on their past connection and expressed empathy despite Hushpuppi’s conviction for money laundering in the United States.

“Hushpuppi is coming out soon. He lived his life, but it’s not worth it to end up in jail,” Davido said. “Some people are okay living large for five years even if it means going to jail after. I’m not justifying it, but that’s how some people think.”

Davido suggested that Nigeria’s economic challenges play a role in why some individuals turn to crime. “The kind of hardship some people face in Nigeria can push them to a point where they just want to enjoy life briefly, even if it comes with consequences.”

He added that although Hushpuppi was someone he saw often, he was unaware of the criminal activities that eventually led to the influencer’s downfall. “He was my guy. I didn’t know what he was into. But he lived well. My prayers go out to him.”

Hushpuppi was sentenced in 2022 to over 11 years in U.S. federal prison and ordered to repay nearly $1.7 million to his victims after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder money. His arrest in Dubai in 2020 marked the beginning of an international case that revealed a network of online fraud schemes.

U.S. authorities described him as a social media figure who flaunted a luxury lifestyle financed by global financial scams.