Hushpuppi denied bail in US. Pays $10k (N4.5m) monthly rent in Dubai

Embattled Instagram celebrity, Hushpuppi, has been denied bail by a Federal Migrate Court in the US.

The 37-year-old appeared by video in a Chicago court on Thursday, where his lawyer, Gal Pissetzky, applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with his babymama’s uncle.

Mr Pissetzky said his client’s job as an Instagram influencer paid for the $10,000 monthly rent on his luxury Dubai flat. Adding that, he had too much to lose to flee the country.

“He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity. I don’t see the reason why he would want to ruin his credibility in the world and his status rather than stay here and face this allegation.

Anywhere he goes, people will know. Having grown up very poor in Nigeria, Mr Abbas is now paid to pose with high-priced items such as Louis Vuitton bags that people would buy after seeing his posts on Instagram.

He is an influencer. That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job,” Mr Pissetzky told a judge in Chicago by videolink.

Judge Jeffrey Gilbert denied the bail application stressing that he was satisfied that Mr Abbas was a flight risk and he would remain in custody until he was taken to a court in California.

“You’ve got to be doing something to pay $10,000 for an apartment in Dubai,” he said.