Lifestyle

Once Upon a Time, Hushpuppi

Published

7 months ago

19 August 2025

In the heart of Lagos, where dreams often outpace reality, a young boy named Ramon Olorunwa Abbas watched the world from a different lens.

Born on October 11, 1982, into humble beginnings, with a taxi-driving father and a bread-selling mother, survival was the name of the game. The bustling streets of Lagos taught him that money wasn’t just power. He attended Government College in Ikorodu, Lagos State, for his secondary education. Before achieving international notoriety, he reportedly sold second-hand clothes in Lagos before relocating to Malaysia, spending some time there before moving to Dubai.

Hushpuppi’s family background was modest. His father was a taxi driver, and his mother sold bread in Lagos. According to reports, his mother did not support his lavish lifestyle and warned him several times to stop flaunting his wealth online. He also had an elder sister who, according to him, died in Gbagada Hospital, Ikeja Lagos, while awaiting typhoid and malaria treatment. He blamed the Nigerian government for both her death and that of his stepmother, citing negligence.

Fast forward a few years, and Lagos could barely contain him. Ramon, now known as Hushpuppi, had upgraded from the dusty markets of Balogun to the glitzy skyscrapers of Dubai. He wasn’t just rich—he was filthy rich, or at least that’s what his Instagram feed screamed. Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Dior head-to-toe, private jets, penthouses overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

Hushpuppi wasn’t just living the dream; he was selling it to millions of eager followers. His social circle included individuals like Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, a Nigerian billionaire and once a close friend. However, their relationship reportedly soured over time. He was also associated with several Nigerian celebrities and flaunted his connections on social media.

But behind the designer shades and Cartier bracelets lay a secret. Money doesn’t just appear, and wealth without a trace always has a backstory. As the world marveled at his extravagant lifestyle, law enforcement agencies were quietly piecing together the puzzle of how this former second-hand clothes seller had become the self-proclaimed “Billionaire Gucci Master.”

Relationships and Personal Life
Hushpuppi had three children from three different women. Two of them lived in London, and the third lived in New York City. His first baby mama, Miss Sho, gave birth to his first son, Dior. However, their relationship turned sour in 2017 when she accused him of being a deadbeat dad, a claim he denied by posting receipts of financial transactions and gifts for his son.

Little is known about his second baby mama, except that she is the mother of Jayden, his daughter and second child.
In 2018, Hushpuppi got married to Shawana Nakesia Chapman, a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. This marriage helped him obtain citizenship in the Caribbean nation.

There were also rumors of past relationships with Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and German model Amirah Dyme. Dikeh denied involvement, while Dyme distanced herself from Hushpuppi after his arrest, calling him out for flaunting stolen money.

Extravagant Lifestyle and Notoriety
Hushpuppi was widely known for his extravagant lifestyle, which he flaunted boldly on social media. His collection of luxury cars was jaw-dropping, including a 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Bentley Bentayga SUV, and a Rolls-Royce Wraith. He also claimed to own a private jet, a blend of luxury, extravagance, and controversy.

He was also known for his love of luxury travel, visiting exotic destinations, staying in five-star hotels, and dining at the finest restaurants. He reportedly had a St. Kitts and Nevis passport, which allowed him to travel freely.

Before his arrest in 2020, Hushpuppi lived in Dubai, where he resided in a luxury apartment. He favored designer brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Versace, flaunting his latest purchases on social media. His nights were often filled with partying and rubbing shoulders with celebrities and influencers.
Despite his lavish lifestyle, Hushpuppi was also known for his philanthropic efforts. He frequently donated to charitable causes in Nigeria and often surprised his friends and followers with expensive gifts. However, his lifestyle was not without controversy. Many criticized him for flaunting his wealth in a country where poverty was widespread. He was also accused of promoting materialism and influencing youths to engage in fraudulent activities.

Arrest and Conviction

For years, Hushpuppi maintained that he was a real estate developer, using this narrative to justify his flamboyant lifestyle. However, beneath the surface, authorities were closing in on him.
In June 2020, Dubai’s finest stormed his lavish residence in a raid known as Fox Hunt 2, uncovering over $40 million in cash, 13 luxury cars, and evidence of scams worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The same Instagram that made him famous became his downfall, as videos of his arrest spread like wildfire.

He was later transferred to the United States, where he was accused of orchestrating scams involving business email compromise (BEC) fraud, defrauding companies and individuals of millions of dollars. His arrest shocked many who admired his lifestyle, exposing the dark reality behind his wealth.

His friend, Mompha, was also arrested the same year but was later released. Contrary to various claims that Hushpuppi had been freed, he remains incarcerated. In 2022, he was sentenced to 11 years behind bars, trading silk sheets for a prison cot.

The Lesson

Hushpuppi’s story is a modern-day rags-to-riches-to-ruins tale. It’s a reminder that not all that glitters is gold and that sometimes, the most expensive lifestyle comes with the highest price.

His story is also a clear reflection of modern society’s obsession with wealth and materialism and a stark reminder that success built on deception is fleeting. His downfall served as a cautionary tale, true wealth and success come from hard work, integrity, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

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Lifestyle

Idia Aisien Opens Up About Heartbreak and Financial Betrayals

Published

2 weeks ago

9 March 2026

Naomi Ugochukwu C.E

Photo credit: Instagram

During the episode, Idia revealed, ‘I used to spend money on guys. If they complained that their business wasn’t doing well, I would give them several million naira,’ she told Toke.

She explained that at the time, she was dating with the intention of marriage, believing early support would be reciprocated. “I believed that if you help a guy in the beginning, later when he’s better, he will help you in return, and if that’s how you treat him, he will eventually treat you,” she said.

Photo credit: Instagram

showing Idia struggling to hold back tears as she reflected on how giving financially in relationships left her feeling taken advantage of. Her candidness resonated with viewers, and prompted conversations about emotional and financial boundaries.

Fans commented on clips from the podcast on YouTube and Instagram. Many shared similar experiences, noting that it’s common to help partners financially early in relationships only to feel let down later. Some viewers expressed support for Idia’s honesty, saying the episode was a conversation we all needed, while others debated whether financial support should ever be given without a clear commitment.

Overall, viewers could relate to Idia’s openness, turning her personal story into a broader discussion on love, trust, and boundaries. By speaking openly with Toke Makinwa, Idia transformed a private hurt into a public discussion, highlighting that relationships can be challenging.

Lifestyle

International Women’s Day: Women Who Lead, Inspire, and Lift Others

Published

2 weeks ago

5 March 2026

Ene Unazi

Photo: Instagram

With International Women’s Day approaching this Sunday, March 8, 2026, we turn the spotlight on women who lead, inspire, and lift others. In this feature, we highlight five Nigerian women who have not only built remarkable careers in entertainment, beauty, fashion, media, and finance, but who have also built influential careers and created opportunities for others. Their stories showcase their professional impact that empowers those around them.

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage: Instagram

Tiwatope Omolara Savage, known as Tiwa Savage, is a singer, songwriter, and the first African female artist to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in July 2016. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, she signed with Mavin Records in 2012 and built one of the most recognised careers in Afrobeats.

She has spoken publicly throughout her career about the double standards female artists face: how their personal lives attract more attention than their work, and how they rarely receive the same professional respect as their male counterparts. For younger women in the industry, hearing someone at her level say it plainly has been widely noted.

In February 2026, she launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to developing the next generation of African music creatives including producers, songwriters, sound engineers, and music executives, not just performers. Her reasoning was direct: behind every successful artist is an entire ecosystem of professionals, and across Africa, access to structured training for those roles is scarce. The foundation was created to change that.

Stella Ndekile

Stella Ndekile: Instagram

Stella Ndekile trained and worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at UNILAG Medical Centre before co-founding Nuban Beauty in 2015 alongside Jane Ogu. The brand officially launched in 2017, built around a straightforward observation: international cosmetics brands were not formulating products for African skin tones or Nigeria’s climate, and Nigerian women had been compensating for that gap for years.

Their In My Skin Foundation became popular among customers because it addressed that gap directly, matching the skin of the women buying it in a way that imported products consistently failed to do. Stella built the brand’s e-commerce platform herself and ran it solely online for two years before a physical store opened.

In 2025, she introduced an AI-powered Skin Decoder at the Lagos Makeup Fair, a tool that analyses hydration, pigmentation, and skin texture to generate personalised skincare recommendations, making that technology accessible to consumers. She has also published Success Uncharted, a book about building a business without a conventional roadmap to see that it has been done before.

Mimi Yina

Mimi Yina: Instagram

Mimi Linda Yina, known as Medlin Boss, grew up in Gboko, Benue State, and studied Sociology at the University of Port Harcourt. She started her fashion business as a student, sourcing clothes on trips abroad for coursemates who liked what she wore. By graduation it had turned into a real business with paying customers.

Her first store in Port Harcourt attracted a clientele that grew steadily to include Funke Akindele, Yemi Alade, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo, and Nancy Isime. Her styling of Teddy A and Bam Bam’s traditional wedding outfits was covered widely across Nigerian entertainment and fashion media. In 2019, she relocated Medlin Couture to Lagos. By 2021, she was dressing the judges and host of The Voice Nigeria.

Beyond her client work, she runs outreach programmes for underprivileged women and children and has used her public profile to advocate for women’s rights. She has spoken about the responsibility that comes with visibility in the fashion industry.

Mo Abudu

Mo Abudu: Instagram

Mosunmola Abudu, known as Mo Abudu, launched her talk show Moments with Mo in 2006. In July 2013, she founded EbonyLife TV on DSTV as Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network, putting together the content slate, brand identity, and business model herself.

EbonyLife produced Fifty, The Governor, and Chief Daddy. In 2018, the company signed a co-production deal with Sony Pictures Television. In June 2020, it signed a multi-title deal with Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African company to do so. “Forbes has recognised her among Africa’s most influential media figures.

What she has built for others is just as significant. In partnership with the Lagos State Government, she established the EbonyLife Creative Academy, which offers free, practical training in filmmaking and media content production. It is open to working professionals and to complete beginners. She has mentored women in media throughout her career and pushed publicly for better funding access for African content creators.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Instagram

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was confirmed as Director-General of the World Trade Organization in February 2021 and took office on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to hold that position. The United States under the Trump administration had opposed her nomination. She gathered international support from WTO member countries until the incoming Biden administration reversed course and her confirmation went through.

She brought 25 years at the World Bank, two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, and a term as Foreign Affairs Minister to that role. As Finance Minister, she published monthly government allocations that had previously been withheld from the public, and refused to approve expenditures she considered corrupt. Her mother was kidnapped in what was widely seen as an attempt to pressure her. She continued in her role regardless.

She has demonstrated, over four decades, that it is possible to hold senior positions in global institutions without softening your positions to make others comfortable. At 71, she continues to advocate for African debt restructuring and fairer trade terms for developing economies.

Lifestyle

Hilda Baci Brings Sunshine in KÍLÈNTÀR’s Ano Collection

Published

2 weeks ago

4 March 2026

Naomi Ugochukwu C.E

Photo credit: Instagram

Hilda steps out in a yellow two-piece from Kīléntár, which includes a woven cropped top designed to define the waist.

Her outfit includes a check print crop top and a high-waisted midi skirt. The crop is a short-sleeved tailored cut that fastens at the front, forming a deep V-neckline. The skirt is layered with fringe detailing and a sheer mesh panel between the fringe tiers.

Photo credit: Instagram

She wore red sandals and a matching mini bag. The red pairing breaks up the monochrome yellow. The repeated pop of red draws the eye and adds definition to the outfit.

Hilda Baci wore pieces from KÍLÈNTÀR’s Ano Collection, photographed up close by Tade. The outfit is tailored to flatter her silhouette.

Photo credit: Instagram

Her hair was worn in a half-up ponytail with loose, voluminous body waves; it complements the structured top and fringe. Her makeup had a soft glam look with a dewy finish, defined brows, winged eyeliner, and a warm nude lip. Her gold-toned jewelry adds warmth to the yellow.