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The Nigeria Police Force has extradited a suspected cyber fraudster, Samuel Ugberease, popularly known by aliases including “Putsammy,” “Putput,” and “Sammy,” to the United States to face prosecution over alleged involvement in online romance scams, wire fraud and money laundering.
The suspect was extradited on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, after Nigerian authorities concluded legal proceedings and coordinated security operations with law enforcement agencies in the United States.
According to the police, Ugberease had been living in South Africa before his arrest and was wanted by US authorities over his alleged role in a transnational fraud syndicate accused of targeting vulnerable women through fake online relationships.
Confirming the extradition, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed that investigations uncovered a long-running criminal network that allegedly operated between 2014 and 2018.
“Investigations revealed that between 2014 and 2018, the suspect and his accomplices operated a criminal syndicate involved in online romance scams targeting female victims in the United States, particularly within the Eastern District of North Carolina,” he said.
Police said the syndicate allegedly used fake social media identities and fraudulent dating profiles to deceive victims emotionally before convincing them to part with huge sums of money under fabricated emergencies and false pretences.
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“The syndicate reportedly created fake online identities and dating profiles to establish fraudulent emotional relationships with victims before manipulating them into sending large sums of money under false pretences and fabricated emergencies,” Placid added.
Authorities further alleged that the fraud proceeds were moved through multiple bank accounts in an effort to conceal the origin of the funds and evade detection by investigators.
“Further investigations established that proceeds of the fraud were laundered through multiple bank accounts used to receive, process, and conceal illicit funds.”
The police spokesman disclosed that in one of the cases linked to the suspect, a victim allegedly lost more than $1.5 million to the criminal operation.
“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),” he stated.
The Nigeria Police revealed that Ugberease was initially apprehended by operatives of INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 14, 2025, shortly after arriving in Nigeria from South Africa.
According to the police, the arrest followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued at the request of United States authorities.
“The fugitive was initially arrested by operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on 14th December 2025 upon his arrival from South Africa, following an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by authorities in the United States.”
The force added that extradition proceedings were subsequently initiated before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where the court approved the request in line with Nigerian extradition laws.
“Subsequently, extradition proceedings were instituted at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, where the court granted the application for his extradition in accordance with the provisions of the Extradition Act, CAP E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling international cybercrime and financial fraud, the police said collaboration with foreign security agencies would continue to strengthen efforts against organised transnational criminal networks.
The post Nigeria hands over alleged romance scam kingpin to US in $1.5m fraud case appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
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