Immediate past Speaker Yakubu Dogara has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prove the link between himself and suspected international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.
The Peoples Democratic Party Representative member was reacting to allegation by the APC he was one of the party’s chieftains with strong links with Hushpuppi.
Hushpuppi, who was arrested in Dubai, has been extradited to the US to face charges of money-laundering and cybercrimes.
The APC mentioned immediate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye, as PDP chieftains in hot romance with Hushpuppi.
But, Dogara in a statement by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, denied any ties with the suspected cybercriminal.
He pointed out APC leaders had also taken photographs with another Dubai-based Instagram celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, who the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting over alleged fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to the former Speaker: “This smellfungus called Nabena should have known that it is share mindlessness to attempt to execute mischief and blackmail in plain sight before the public some of whom are better informed. Who is that fool that links people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture at a public event comprising of people from different walks of life?
“If appearing in a group photograph is what Nabena is now using to establish a link or connection to crimes or alleged criminals, then, why didn’t he issue such a statement in the wake of the arrest of a suspected money launderer by name Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, whose pictures with notable personalities including some APC governors are all over the social media? Is Nabena guilty of selective amnesia or share perfidy? Who is Nabena scared of? Who is he trying to fool?”
“For Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, that picture was just another picture among the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of such pictures with Nigerians from all walks of life.
“If the said Nabena is worth his salt, next time he speaks, he should speak to issues affecting the welfare of our union, which are well known to all discerning Nigerians.
“Nabena should or ought to know that there is no honour in speaking about group pictures taken at public events when the nation is bleeding and most Nigerian families are struggling and hurting.”
