The Nigeria Police Force has extradited suspected cyber fraudster Samuel Ugberease to the United States to face charges linked to online romance scams, wire fraud and related financial crimes.
The suspect, popularly known by aliases including ‘Putsammy’, ‘Putput’ and ‘Sammy’, was extradited on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, after Nigerian and United States law enforcement authorities concluded extradition proceedings and coordinated cross-border investigations tied to the case.
According to the police, Ugberease was based in South Africa before his arrest and was allegedly part of a criminal syndicate that used fake online identities and fabricated dating profiles to lure victims, mostly women in the United States, into fraudulent emotional relationships.
What the police is saying
The police said investigations showed that between 2014 and 2018, Ugberease and his alleged accomplices operated an organised online romance scam network targeting female victims across the United States, especially within the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Authorities said the group allegedly relied on fake digital identities and deceptive communication tactics to establish emotional connections with victims before financially exploiting them.
The Nigeria Police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged fraud were moved through several bank accounts in an attempt to disguise and conceal the origin of the funds.
- “Further investigations established that proceeds of the fraud were laundered through multiple bank accounts used to receive, process, and conceal illicit funds. In one of the reported cases, the suspect was linked to the defrauding of a victim of over One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($1.5 million USD),” the statement said.
More insights
Ugberease was initially arrested by operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 14, 2025, shortly after arriving in Nigeria from South Africa.
- The arrest followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by authorities in the United States seeking his apprehension over alleged cyber fraud offences.
- Following his arrest, extradition proceedings were filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where the court eventually approved the request for his extradition in line with provisions of Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
The Nigeria Police said the extradition reflects its growing reliance on INTERPOL collaboration, intelligence-sharing and international partnerships to combat cybercrime, financial fraud and other forms of transnational organised crime.
The force also assured local and international partners of continued cooperation in advancing global security and tackling cross-border criminal networks.
What you should know
One of the most high-profile cases involving the extradition of a Nigerian cyber fraud suspect remains that of Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to the United States over massive internet fraud allegations involving millions of dollars.
Several other extradition cases involving Nigerians accused of international crimes have followed in recent years.
- Just last month, the Nigeria Police Force extradited Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi to the United Kingdom to face charges related to murder and drug trafficking.
- In February 2026, Afeez Olatunji Adewale was extradited from Nigeria to the United States over allegations linked to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Earlier, in May 2025, Nairametrics reported that the Nigeria Police, through INTERPOL NCB Abuja, extradited Abubakar Aboki Muhammed from the United Arab Emirates over an alleged $307,500 fraud case.
Later that same year, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu was extradited to the United States from France to face charges related to computer hacking, identity theft and wire fraud schemes that allegedly defrauded U.S. tax authorities and victims out of millions of dollars.
