Nigerian Police PRO, Frank Mba says alleged internet fraudster Ramoni Igbalode aka Hushpuppi will enjoy the privileges of being tried in a free world.
The Free World is a term used during the era of the Cold War. It was often used by non-communist nations to describe themselves. The President of the United States was often called the “leader of the Free World”.
Hushpuppi was arrested by the Dubai Police in June and was later handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States where he is now facing charges on money laundering.
Speaking on a radio programme, ‘Real Talk With Kike’, on Thursday, Mr Mba said that the alleged fraudster would enjoy “the privileges of being tried in a free world and in a liberal democracy”.
He also disclosed that Hushpupp’s arrest wasn’t carried out by the Dubai Police alone.
Mba said, “The feat by the Dubai Police was not achieved by them alone but an international collaboration that ran across multiple security agencies with Interpol playing a very big role, FBI playing a big role and of course, the Dubai Police taking the lead because they as the national police, policing the country where Hushpuppi was based and where most of his activities emanated from.”
Asked by the host whether the Nigerian Police has the capacity to arrest criminals of Hushpuppi’s category, he said “time will tell” but pointed out that a lot of progress was being made by the Interpol unit located at the Force Headquarters in Abuja manned by Police operatives.
Mba added, “Hushpuppi will enjoy the privileges of being tried in a free world and in a liberal democracy. I also have no doubt about his capacity to pay for the best of lawyers. He’s a billionaire crook. He should have the capacity to pay
“But the good thing about the law is that, when the facts are so clear, they speak for themselves. As long as the prosecution is able to make out their case and establish their case, the judge would certainly give judgment favour of the prosecution.
“However, if the prosecution is unable to prove their case, then the benefit of the doubt would be given to the suspect, although I doubt if that would happen in Huspuppi’s case.
“Because there is massive multilateral collaboration still working on that case and putting evidence together.
“I’m not going to weep for Hushpuppi and I say no one should. There are still a lot of baby Hushpuppis around, a lot of bigger Hushpuppis around.
“We will need to walk together as a people. Hushpuppi is a metaphor to look at the bigger picture facing us.”
Hushpuppi risks spending 20 years in jail should he be convicted.
