Afrigather 
Two Islamic clerics from Nigeria have despatched letters to the US district choose dealing with the continued fraud trial of Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, describing the Instagram sensation as a philanthropist who used his huge fortunes to assist poor households, Muslims and Islamic tasks.
Imam Rasaq Olopede of Madrasat Ridwanu L’Hai- L-Aroyibat Wal Islamiyat Imisi-Oluwa Mosque in Lagos stood as a personality witness for Mr Abbas earlier than Otis D. Wright, who mentioned he would ship judgment within the matter on November 7.
Mr Abbas has been a “younger and thriving grownup with a eager curiosity for growth of his group,” Mr Olopede mentioned in an October 8, 2022, letter to Mr Wright of the US District Courtroom for the Central District of California in Los Angeles.
The cleric described Hushpuppi as “a frequent donator to the mosque I lead,” including that “Ramon would normally contribute his half to something that considerations the mosque; he would supply monetary assist at each given time when the mosque was holding occasions.”
“He, at totally different occasions, donated to the mosque, similar to he did when he purchased a generator set for the mosque,” Mr Olopede mentioned.
Equally, Hudu Abdulrasak, one other Islamic cleric, wrote from a Borno madrasa that Mr Abbas “has lent palms of help to many in our group by means of provision of borehole, water effectively, cost of faculty charges, supporting of feeding programmes,” amongst others.
After stating how Mr Abass assisted widows and orphans within the war-ravaged Borno area, Mr Abdulrasak mentioned: “We hereby plead and pray to your honour to kindly put the above-stated into consideration when tempering justice.”
The clerics expressed dismay at Mr Abbas’ descent into crime however harassed that his good deeds must be emphasised at sentencing.
Regina Mariam Manneh, a Dubai resident who mentioned she had a four-year-old boy with Mr Abbas, additionally knowledgeable the choose in regards to the household’s agony since his arrest. She mentioned the choose ought to contemplate their baby’s future and impose a lighter sentence that may see Mr Abbas out of jail early sufficient to play his half in elevating his kids.
In September, Mr Abbas’s attorneys satisfied Mr Wright to delay his sentencing till November 7, hoping it could give his authorized workforce sufficient time to contest the 11 years’ jail advisable by the prosecutors. The attorneys mentioned they wouldn’t contest the demand for restitution to victims.
Prosecutors had opposed delaying the sentencing any additional than September 19, arguing that Mr Abbas and his attorneys had prior data of all associated issues within the case and had been solely out to delay and frustrate the judicial course of.
However Mr Abbas’ attorneys, led by prison defence lawyer Louis Shapiro, mentioned the prosecutors had been attempting to railroad the choose into sentencing their shopper whilst some points had been nonetheless excellent. The attorneys additionally accused the prosecution in Central California of missing human compassion and utilizing underhand ways to make their case for not less than 11 years in jail for his or her shopper.
Mr Abbas has been in U.S. custody since he was extradited from Dubai in mid-2020, languishing in jail amid fears he would possibly represent a flight threat.
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