To prevent American rapper Curtis James Jackson, nicknamed 50 Cent, from making a television series based on the life of convicted fraudster Ramon Abbas, sometimes known as Hushpuppi, a Nigerian prophet named Samuel Effiong has started a change.org petition.
Hushpuppi was given a sentence of more than 11 years in a US Federal Prison on November 7th for conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars obtained through online frauds.
Soon after being found guilty, 50 Cent revealed on Instagram that he was developing a movie series based on the life of Hushpuppi.
He wrote, “For my scammers, I gotta do this one. The Hushpuppi series is coming soon! GLG, Green Light Gang, I don’t miss.”
Prophet Effiong, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with 50 Cent’s new announcement regarding the intended movie series a week later in his petition.
He claims that the show will exacerbate stereotypes and further tarnish Nigeria’s already damaged reputation.
“This proposed series will further tank Nigeria’s battered image as it will reinforce stereotypes about all Nigerians being scammers.
“Furthermore, this plan would not only make Hushpuppi rich, as he would have to be paid for rights, but it would also encourage and glamourize cybercrime,” the petition reads.
At the time of publication, the change.org petition’s goal of 200 signatures was still 64 signatures away.
The second time 50 Cent will relate a true crime narrative will be if his dream to make a movie about Hushpppi’s life comes true.
A television series on The Black Mafia Family, a former American drug trafficking and money laundering organisation, was in the works when 50 Cent announced it in 2019.
Black Mafia Family (BMF) was the name of the cable network Starz’s television series, which 50 Cent executive produced.
Demetrius Flenory Jr. portrays his father Demetrius “Meech” Flenory, the creator of the Black Mafia Family, in the September 2021 television series. The latter is presently incarcerated in a U.S. facility.
Hushpuppi was found guilty of launderng the proceeds of a business email compromise fraud, a school finance scam, and other online frauds.
United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II sentenced the 40-year-old and required him to pay $1,732,841 in restitution to two fraud victims.
Hushpuppi flaunted his lifestyle on social media up until his arrest in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020, primarily through his recently shut down Instagram page. The US government claimed that his lavish lifestyle was supported by crime.
He admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit money laundering in April 2021, which resulted in a reduction of his potential sentence from 20 years to around 11 years.
Additionally, the trial court mandated that he pay the roughly $1.7 million in restitution that he had committed to in his plea bargain in April 2021.
