A suspected Nigerian internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has said his “story” should inspire and give hope to Nigerians who are “suffering” because of widespread hunger and poverty.

Mr Abbas made the assertion in a video which surfaced on social media, after he was arrested recently in Dubai and extradited to the U.S to face criminal charges for allegedly using the Internet to steal millions of dollars from people and institutions around the world.

The 37-year-old Nigerian who was resident in Dubai was known for living an extravagant lifestyle and flaunting it on social media.

“Una suppose use my story do documentary to give people hope,” Mr Abbas said in the video.

“But una feel say people no deserve hope, na suffer they must dey use to. Una believe say na wetin I deserve na to suffer.” Premium Times reports.

Mr Abbas spoke in Pidgin English in the five-minute video.

He said many Nigerians were living under the crushing effect of poverty because of bad government in the country.

He said his mum hails from Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, but that she has never benefited from the huge money made from the oil exploitation in the region.

“What about people in Badagry, people in Agege, enjoyment reach their side?

“What about people wey dey Ebonyi state? Not for once I don watch news, I don hear say one development don reach Ebonyi. All those places dem no be Nigerians, dem no deserve enjoyment?”

Mr Abbas apparently did the video as a response to Nigerians on social media who were questioning his source of money and also criticising his flamboyant lifestyle.

He said Nigerians were coming after him on social media because of the “meat” he was “eating” abroad.

“Una come look say meat wey I dey chop for abroad na him dey affect Nigeria, na him make Nigeria no good, I no deserve to chop meat, I no deserve to wear better clothes, I no even deserve to look like human being.”

He said he was making money as “a social media influencer” from countries that were paying him heavily to “host parties, (and) events”.

Mr Abbas in the video talked about his personal struggle with poverty, how he got hit by a commercial motorcycle and how he lost his younger sister and a step-mother because of poverty and illness.

“I no enjoy one single enjoyment from government, my papa no enjoy one enjoyment. For my own generation, I am the only one that has escaped from poverty,” he said.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari owes his father explanation on why there was so much poverty in Nigeria.