The United States of America (USA) Government has arrested three persons named along with a popular Nigerian police officer, Abba Kyari, as co-accused in a $1.1 million transnational cyber-fraud.
Penpushing reports that, the arrested persons as contained in a court documents include: Yusuf Adeyinka Anifowoshe (aka AJ or Alvin Johnson), Rukayat Motunraya Fashola (aka Morayo) and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka (aka Bolamide).
The Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) arrested Anifowoshe and Ms Fashola separately on July 22,2021 at their homes in New York, while Ms Agbabiaka was arrested in New Jersey, and subsequently granted bail in the sum of $150,000.
Penpushing further reports that, those already arrested are part of the six persons, including Kyari, who will be facing three charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, at the America District Court of Central District Court of California.
The court had, in its order on July 26, issued a warrant for the arrest of the Nigerian-based Deputy Commissioner of Police(Kyari) describing him as a “high risk defendant” , hence, reasons for asking for an arrest warrant against him
Penpushing also reports that, two other co-accused are Abdulrahman Juma (aka Abdul and Rahman), and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, who are believed to be resident in Nigeria, while Ramon Abbas, (Hushpuppi) said to be ring leader of the fraud, along with Juma, Chibuzo and others, has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai in June 2020 and repatriated to America
The celebrated Nigerian police officer, Abba Kyari, who has been mentioned as a beneficiary in multi-billion dollars fraud case involving Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi has distanced himself from the allegation.
Penpushing reports that, Kyari in a statement to exonerate himself from allegation of benefiting from Hushpuppi criminal activities, said he only introduced the fraudster to a clothe sellers in Nigeria.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police said Hushpuppi saw some of his(Kyari) native clothes and caps on his social media page and he said he likes them and thereafter connected him to the person selling the clothes.
Penpushing further reports that, Kyari said Hushpuppi later sent about N300,000 directly to the person’s account, who he said later brought the native clothes and five caps to his office, for onward transmission to Hushpuppi
The police boss explained that his first contact with Hushipuppi was about two years ago when he called his office that somebody in Nigeria seriously threatened to kill his family in Nigeria and he sent the person’s phone number and pleaded police take action before the person attacks his family.
‘For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious big money, they will be disappointed once again as our hands are clean and our record of service for 2 decades is open for everybody to see. They will continue seeing us serving our father land and we will continue responding to all distress calls from all Nigerians provided they are life threatening’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that, the American government has insisted that the celebrated Nigerian police officer, has case to answer having identified him among co-conspirators in the a$1.1million fraud charge.
The judge of the United States of America (USA) District Court for the Central District of California, Otis Wright in issuing the unsealing order also granted the government’s request for detention order and arrest warrant against Kyari and others.
‘Following the grand jury’s finding approving three charges against Mr Abba Kyari and others, the judge, Otis Wright of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California , made the order unsealing the docket, essentially opening up the records for public accessibility on July 26’.
Penpushing further reports that, the indictment document in the multi-million-dollars money laundering fraud alleged Kyari to have conspired with Hushpuppi together with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly conspired to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343”.
The ring leader of the scam has, however, owned up to the crimes and entered into plea agreement with the American government which was filed at the Central District Court of Central District of California, on Tuesday, and a date will later be fixed for him to change his previous not-guilty plea to “guilty.”
Meanwhile, the offence attracts maximum imprisonment of 20 years with full restitution and other punishments, his plea agreement he entered into with the United Staes of America(USA) government stated.
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