The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Mr. Atiku Abubakar and the former senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, have denied any link with a suspected cyber fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi who has been charged in the US for fraudulently obtaining N168 billion ($435 million) from over 1.9 million persons.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) other sister agencies to investigate reports linking Hushpuppi to top PDP members.
The APC had in a statement ‘Criminal conspiracy linking Hushpuppi with PDP leadership should be investigated,’ and signed by its deputy spokesman, Mr. Yekini Nabena, said the PDP turned Dubai into a hub for its “strategic meetings” ahead of the 2019 general elections.
It stated that Hushppupi was, at different times in Dubai, seen in photographs with Atiku; Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, former senator representing Kogi West, Mr. Dino Melaye among other PDP stalwarts.
“Reports of the criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas also known as ‘Ray Hushpuppi’ who was recently arrested along with associate(s) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States of America to face trial over cyber-enabled fraud and Business Email Compromise schemes should be a matter of serious interest to relevant authorities in Nigeria.
“We note that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has already declared the arraigned Instagram celebrity wanted over fraud allegations,” the statement read in part.
“That the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their ‘strategic’ meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and ‘Hushpuppi’s’ affinity with the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.
“At different times, Hushpuppi was photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former senate president, Bukola Saraki; former speaker, house of representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and Senator Dino Melaye, among other PDP stalwarts.
“While relevant authorities investigate the nature of their relationship and business partnership, we also challenge the PDP leadership to do the same by opening up on the nature of the relationship, particularly the kind of services the arrested “Hushpuppi” provided them,” the statement read in part.
Reacting to the allegation, Atiku’s media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, denied that his principal met with the suspected cybercriminal, hedging that it was only “a mere photo-op.”
“It is curious that the All Progressives Congress is mischievously trying to link Atiku Abubakar to the alleged fraudster, Hushpuppi, simply because he was photographed with Atiku at an event where many Nigerians were gathered.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it was a mere photo-op and not at any meeting as being ingloriously speculated.
“We would advise the APC and Mr. Nabena to be very mindful of such senseless statements in the future, especially as the case under reference, is a subject of litigation in another country.
“Had they been more sensitive, they would have come to terms with the reality that the case is a national embarrassment – not something to cheer about for any political blackmail.”
Also responding, Saraki described the APC’s statement which linked him with the cyber-crime suspect as irresponsible and cheap blackmail.
Saraki, in a statement by his media adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, on Saturday, said had has no form of association with the alleged fraudster.
“The statement credited to the APC, the ruling party in our country, is one of the ways by which our anti-graft agencies are weakened and why the fight against corruption in the country is often viewed with suspicion by the international community.
“This is because when these cyber-crime suspects were operating freely and openly displaying wealth, the APC saw nothing bad in their activities. Also, the party at that time did not deem it necessary to call on the anti-graft agencies to investigate their activities,” he said.
“Since the arrest of those cyber-crime suspects and the subsequent damage to the image and the economy of Nigeria as well as the crisis it created for Nigerians engaged in lawful business across the world, the ruling party had been muted
“The only time the APC deemed it necessary to make a statement was when it thought it should play dirty, cheap and irresponsible politics.”
Olaniyonu added that Saraki had, in a newspaper article ‘Cyber criminals: Confronting the few who dent many’ condemned publicly the activities of cyber criminals and called on the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to make decisive interventions to checkmate their activities.
“In that article, he strongly condemned the activities of these cyber criminals and called on the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to make decisive interventions to checkmate their activities.
“He has also got a research institution, the Politeia Institute, whose board he chairs to commence research on the best ways to tackle the menace.
“Such a noble intervention in tackling a menace is what Dr Saraki believes in, not mudslinging and playing politics at the expense of the nation’s image.
“At this point, we call on the APC leadership to rein in on the so-called Yekini Nabena and compel him to desist from making and circulating such malicious, odious and offensive claims,” said Saraki.
