LAGOS — Social media was set ablaze on Monday following viral reports claiming that notorious cyber-fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, had been released from a United States prison and deported to Nigeria for “good behavior.”
However, an investigation into official records and current judicial proceedings confirms that these reports are entirely false. As of February 9, 2026, Abbas remains firmly behind bars in a U.S. federal correctional facility, with years left on his eleven-year sentence.
Still Serving Time in New Jersey
According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Ramon Abbas (Register Number: 54313-424) is still an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix in New Jersey.
While the viral posts claimed he was “freed yesterday” due to his “commitment and conduct,” the official BOP database lists his scheduled release date as August 6, 2029. Although federal inmates can earn slight reductions for exemplary behavior, there has been no judicial order or administrative action to grant him a four-year early release.
The ‘Lookalike’ Arrest in Lagos
The confusion appears to have been fueled by blurry images circulating on WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter), showing a man resembling Abbas being led away in handcuffs by INTERPOL officers at a Nigerian airport.
Fact-checkers have identified the man in those photos as Lawrence Folawunmi, a separate fraud suspect recently apprehended by the EFCC and INTERPOL in Lagos in connection with a $1.2 million wire fraud case. The visual similarity between the two men was exploited by bloggers to create a “Welcome Back” narrative for the incarcerated socialite.
The ₦152 Trillion Context
The “return of Hushpuppi” rumor gained traction partly because of the current national mood. With Nigeria’s national debt surging past ₦152 trillion and petrol prices nearing ₦1,000 per litre, many Nigerians are hyper-focused on stories of “easy wealth” and high-profile justice.
Furthermore, the ongoing terrorism financing trial of former AGF Abubakar Malami has kept the public’s appetite for “sacred cow” stories at an all-time high, making the fake news of a Hushpuppi deportation ripe for viral consumption.
Judicial Standing
Abbas was sentenced in November 2022 to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He was also ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution to his victims.
Legal experts note that even if he were to be released early, he would likely face immediate deportation proceedings handled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a process that is typically strictly documented and announced through official diplomatic channels, not leaked via social media memes.
For now, the “Gucci Master” remains a guest of the American government, far removed from the National Assembly protests and the “Villa Peace” deals currently defining the Nigerian political landscape.
