BIG DOG OF CYBERHEISTS

ABUJA: A Nigerian Instagram celebrity who had an inexplicable rise from Lagos street hawker to a penthouse in Dubai has pleaded guilty to conning a fortune from his victims in cyberheists.

Ramon Abbas, 37, styled himself as “Hushpuppi”, an extravagant social media persona that he used to dupe targets all over the world, a court in California was told. He faces up to 20 years in jail and the prospect of repaying some of those he swindled after admitting money laundering and running a fraudulent email racket.

Abbas was arrested in June last year. Nearly $50 million in cash and 13 cars were seized at his Dubai apartment along with evidence that pointed to nearly 2 million possible victims.

The FBI described Abbas as one of the world’s most high-profile money launderers.