I recall Abike Dabiri-Ereuwa, of the Diaspora Affairs office, taking to social media to tag criminals, who were arrested overseas “in the line of duty”, as Igbo instead of Nigerians. I recall the backlash that followed that infamous and shameful tagging by a federal government official.
Folks of other tribes and ethnic stock took to social media to lampoon Igbos with their ignorance, hate, jealousy and stereotyping.
I remember warning them to be careful because criminals don’t have tribes or ethnicity, but are criminals and they shame all of us.
Ramoni Akanni, aka Hushpuppi, is a Nigerian who has made so much money via internet fraud, the one we call Yahoo Yahoo. He is not an Igbo man. And the internet is quiet because he’s not Omo Igbo.
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He fleeced the American government of $100m. Yes, one hundred million dollars. No tagging, except from those who are “retaliating”.
He went on a spending spree, bought a $500,000 2020 Rolls Royce and took to Instagram to celebrate his obscene wealth.
Today, I want all of us to know that Hushpuppi, a Yoruba man, like other Igbos caught in this crime, has shamed all of us – Nigerians. The World knows only Nigeria and Nigerians. And for now it includes you, me, them.
Akanni has smeared the millions of Nigerians working hard to earn decent living with this terrible brush. He has further damaged our already battered image.
When next you encounter an Oyibo man and he treats you with suspicion or when next you’re denied something by an Oyibo man, remember the Hushpuppis of this world caused it.
These stupid and idiotic criminal elements think the world works like Nigeria where stealing is no “big deal”; where criminals are celebrated and rewarded instead of being punished; where nobody asks questions as to the source of people’s wealth.
They think Americans are corrupt to the extent that they can be bought off from the huge sums stolen. They’re mistaken.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has painstakingly launched an investigation on this thief, and has picked him up. What remains now is to prosecute him and send him to jail where he rightly belongs.
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