Convicted Nigerian fraudster Obinwanne Okeke, who is currently serving a 10-year jail term in the United States for wire fraud, says he finds it insulting to be compared with another Nigerian Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi facing similar charges in the US.
Mr Okeke, popularly known as Invictus Obi, was handed his sentence in February for computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in known losses to his US-based victims.
Speaking with a crime journalist David Pright in an interview held in August and published recently, Okeke said he helped his community and should not be compared with Hushpuppi.
“It’s insulting, me and Hushpuppi are not on the same level. Hushpuppi could never achieve what I achieved. He cannot run a business and we are not similar in any way. He was out to please the crowd, I was out to change lives, create jobs and conquer the business world,” he said.
According to court documents, the 33-year-old Okeke operated a group of companies known as the Invictus Group based in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Hushpuppi had a penchant for flaunting wealth on social media.
“I have done so much for my community back home with my charity foundation, which lives has he helped? Nobody,” Okeke added.
Asked if he disliked Hushpuppi, he responded, “No I have never met him, but I just find the continued comparison very annoying. Our impact on the world is very different. I have made a much more positive contribution to society than he has.”
Okeke was arrested in August 2019.
Forbes had listed him as one of the influential young entrepreneurs.
Okeke entered into a deal with the US government by pleading guilty to the second charge of wire fraud to, among others, enable him enjoy immunity from prosecution on the same matter in the US eastern district of Virginia.
