Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has spoken about his past relationship with convicted internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
On November 3, 2022, the 40-year-old former social influencer was sentenced to 135 months (11 years, three months) jail term by a California, US court.
The court also ordered him to refund $1.7 million to two of his victims.
His sentencing followed his conviction some months earlier.
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It brought to an end a two-year battle that began with his extradition to the United States from the United Arab Emirates, after he was arrested in Dubai in June 2020.
He remained in custody from then until his sentencing.
In a recent podcast appearance, Davido reflected on their past connection and expressed empathy despite Hushpuppi’s conviction.
The singer admitted that he once shared a friendship with Hushpuppi but insisted he had no knowledge of his fraudulent dealings at the time.
“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 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,” he said.
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 said.
