Davido Opens Up About Past Friendship with Hushpuppi

 

Afrobeats star Davido has finally broken his silence on his past relationship with convicted internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

In a recent podcast interview, the "Unavailable" hitmaker acknowledged that he and Hushpuppi were once friends, but clarified that he had no idea about the illicit activities that would later land the socialite in U.S. federal prison.

“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,” Davido said during the interview.

Despite the scandal surrounding Hushpuppi’s arrest and conviction, Davido showed a measure of sympathy. “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.”

The singer also used the opportunity to reflect on the harsh realities many Nigerians face, suggesting that economic hardship and lack of opportunities often push people toward criminal ventures.

“In Nigeria, there is a kind of hardship you would face and you’ll be like, you know what? Let me ball for two years, then I’m good,” he said. “People are like that. My prayers go out to him.”

Hushpuppi, who was sentenced to 11 years in U.S. federal prison in 2022, was convicted for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme. He was also ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two victims. His legal troubles began with a dramatic arrest in Dubai in 2020, followed by extradition to the United States and a guilty plea in 2021 for conspiracy to commit money laundering.

While Davido maintains that he was unaware of Hushpuppi’s criminal dealings, his comments add another layer to the ongoing conversation around fame, fraud, and the struggles of survival in Nigeria.