Afrobeats megastar Davido has finally opened up about his past association with convicted fraudster and former Instagram celebrity Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi.
Speaking on a recent podcast, the “Feel” singer acknowledged their past friendship but made it clear he had no idea about Hushpuppi’s criminal dealings at the time.
Hushpuppi is coming out soon. He lived life. To me, it’s not worth it to be locked up. But let me not make excuses for them (fraudsters). Some people are happy to ball for five years and that’s it,” Davido said.
Davido, whose music often touches on the realities of wealth and ambition, expressed a mix of sympathy and realism. He pointed to Nigeria’s harsh economic climate as a key reason why some young people are drawn into illegal ventures.
In Nigeria, there is a kind of hardship you would face and you’d be like, you know what? Let me ball for two years then I’m good,” he added.
“People are like that. My prayers go out to him (Hushpuppi). He was my friend. I just used to see him around—I never really knew what he was doing. But he lived a good life.”
Hushpuppi’s Downfall
Hushpuppi, once known for flaunting designer outfits, exotic cars, and luxury travel on social media, is currently serving an 11-year sentence in the United States. In 2022, U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II sentenced him to prison for a massive conspiracy to commit money laundering, ordering him to repay $1.7 million to two fraud victims.
He was arrested in June 2020 in Dubai and later extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada remarked:
Abbas bragged on social media about his lavish lifestyle – a lifestyle funded by his involvement in transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracies targeting victims around the world.”
While some continue to reflect on the rise and fall of Hushpuppi, Davido’s comments offer a glimpse into how the realities of Nigerian society can push even the most ambitious into risky paths — and how fame doesn’t always come with full knowledge of those in one’s circle.
