USA court suspends Hushpuppi's trial

The trial of Nigerian Instagram big boy, Ramon Igbalode Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi has been postponed due to the deadly coronavirus.

Judge Otis Wright ordered that owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic, his trial will now resume by 9:00 a.m. on May 4, 2021.

Hushpuppi who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in June, 2020 and extradited to the United States in early July, was accused of being the leader of a group that facilitates computer intrusion, business email compromise (BEC) fraud and money laundering.

However, the 37-year-old Nigerian pleaded not guilty to the four-count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

He reportedly entered a plea, insisting that he is not guilty of the charges. The Instagram celebrity will be represented in court by Vicki Podberesky, a top-rated lawyer in California and Gal Pissetzky, a Chicago-based lawyer appearing pro hac vice because he is not licensed to practise outside Chicago.

It was also learnt that Hushpuppi pleaded that he should be prosecuted with complaint and not indictment.