The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) says it can’t speak on Raymond ‘Hushpuppi’ Igbalodely, said to have been arrested in Dubai over fraud-related allegations.
On Wednesday, distorted accounts on his apprehension swirled across social media in a case that became a high-profile one involving the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Interpol.
But Interpol, which facilitates global police cooperation and crime control in a response to a request by Thecable, reiterated that it doesn’t independently carry out investigations or effect arrests.
“INTERPOL does not make arrests or conduct investigations. This is always done by police in our 194 member countries in accordance with national legislation,” a statement from the organisation read.
“We would advise you to contact the UAE and/or Dubai authorities, who can advise whether such an arrest took place in their jurisdiction.”
On his part, Garba Umar, head of the Interpol bureau in Nigeria, said he is yet to receive details on Hushpuppi’s arrest. He also dismissed claims made by reports that quoted him to have spoken on the matter.
“I’ve not received any reply. Those who quoted me, I told them we’re waiting. It’s not yet confirmed. People should stop reading what’s being posted on social media,” Umar, a police commissioner, told TheCable Lifestyle.
In 2019, the FBI had listed nearly 80 Nigerians in a cyberfraud case that was described as one of the largest of its kind in the United States’ history — after two others were nabbed a year before.
Hushpuppi’s case comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) docked Mompha, another wealthy internet personality, over alleged N32.9 billion money laundering and the trial of Invictus Obi, another Nigerian internet fraudster by the United States government.
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