Former House of Representatives member Shina Peller has ignited a firestorm of controversy after posting a birthday tribute to Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, a Nigerian convicted of fraud and money laundering in the United States.
The ex-lawmaker’s message, shared on X on Sunday, October 12, 2025, included prayers and words of encouragement for the imprisoned influencer, drawing widespread condemnation from Nigerians who view it as an endorsement of criminality.
Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State from 2019 to 2023, wrote, “Happy birthday, Hush.
"May Allah forgive your shortcomings and grant you strength to overcome challenges. Keep faith!”
The post, which quickly amassed thousands of views, sparked outrage across social media, with many questioning why a former public official would publicly celebrate a figure serving an 11-year sentence in a U.S. prison for orchestrating multimillion-dollar cybercrimes.
Hushpuppi, once a social media sensation known for flaunting luxury lifestyles, was convicted in 2022 for defrauding victims of over $24 million through business email compromise (BEC) scams and other schemes.
His case, widely covered in Nigeria, has been a lightning rod for debates about cybercrime and the glorification of ill-gotten wealth.
Peller, now a businessman and nightclub owner, has not responded to the backlash, but supporters claim his message was a personal gesture of compassion, not an endorsement of Hushpuppi’s crimes.
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