Nigeria Police Extradite Criminal Suspect to the United States

The Nigeria Police Force, through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, has extradited Samuel Ugberease—also known as “Putsammy,” “Putput,” and “Sammy”—to the United States to face charges related to online romance scams, wire fraud, and associated financial crimes.

A statement signed by DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, said the suspect, who had been residing in South Africa before his arrest, was extradited on Wednesday after the completion of extradition proceedings and coordinated efforts between Nigerian and U.S. law‑enforcement agencies.

Investigations revealed that from 2014 to 2018, Ugberease and his accomplices ran a criminal syndicate that targeted female victims in the United States, especially in the Eastern District of North Carolina, through online romance scams.

The syndicate allegedly created fake online identities and dating profiles to forge emotional relationships with victims, then persuaded them to send large sums of money under false pretences and fabricated emergencies.

Placid added that further investigations showed the proceeds of the fraud were laundered through multiple bank accounts used to receive, process, and conceal illicit funds.

In one reported case, police said the suspect was linked to the defrauding of a victim of more than One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($1.5 million USD).

The fugitive was initially arrested by INTERPOL NCB Abuja operatives at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on 14 December 2025, after arriving from South Africa, following an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by U.S. authorities.

Extradition proceedings were then held at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, where the Court granted the application for extradition under the Extradition Act, CAP E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to using INTERPOL tools, international partnerships, and intelligence‑led policing to combat cybercrime, financial fraud, and other transnational organised criminal activities, and assured both local and international partners of its continued cooperation in advancing global security.