I never really knew what he was doing – Davido opens up about Hushpuppi

Afrobeats superstar Davido has finally shared his thoughts on his past association with convicted internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

In a recent podcast interview, the Unavailable hitmaker spoke candidly about their relationship and the harsh realities that push some Nigerians into fraud.

“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, reflecting on their past interactions.

Hushpuppi, once famed for his extravagant lifestyle on Instagram, was sentenced in 2022 to 11 years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar fraud conspiracy.

He was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two of his victims.

His journey to incarceration began in June 2020, when he was arrested in a dramatic raid in Dubai, followed by his extradition to the United States. In April 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and has since remained in federal custody.

Reacting to the latest buzz about Hushpuppi’s potential early release, Davido added,

“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 went on to offer a sobering perspective on the socio-economic struggles in Nigeria that often lead people down such paths.

“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 explained. “People are like that. My prayers go out to him.”

While Davido refrained from defending fraud, his comments sparked conversations online about the desperation many young Africans face and the allure of quick wealth despite the risks.