Nigerian Romance Scam Suspect Samuel Ugberaese Caught and Deported to US

The Nigeria Police Force has successfully extradited suspected cybercriminal Samuel Ugberaese to the United States to face prosecution for operating a romance fraud syndicate that allegedly defrauded victims of millions of dollars.

Ugberaese, also known by the aliases “Putsammy”, “Putput”, and “Sammy”, was extradited on May 14, 2026, following coordinated efforts between Nigerian and United States law enforcement authorities. He had been based in South Africa prior to his arrest.

The suspect was initially apprehended by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on December 14, 2025, upon his arrival from South Africa. His arrest followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by United States authorities.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, confirmed the development in an official statement. He said, “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.”

Placid further explained that the syndoodle 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.

In one particularly egregious case, the suspect was linked to defrauding a single victim of over $1.5 million. Proceeds from the fraud were allegedly laundered through multiple bank accounts designed to conceal the illicit funds.

Following his arrest, extradition proceedings were instituted at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, where the court granted the application in accordance with the provisions of the Extradition Act.

Upon arrival in the United States, Ugberaese was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Brian Myers in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The judge ordered that he remain in detention pending trial.

According to a federal indictment returned on January 22, 2021, Ugberaese is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege he conspired with co-defendant Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalised United States citizen, to move funds through a network of bank accounts registered to purported export companies.

If convicted, Ugberaese faces a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. However, United States authorities have noted that the indictment remains an allegation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to international cooperation in combating cybercrime. Placid stated, “The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to leveraging INTERPOL tools, international partnerships, and intelligence-led policing to combat cybercrime, financial fraud, and other transnational organised criminal activities, while assuring both local and international partners of its continued cooperation in advancing global security.”

Several agencies played roles in securing the extradition, including the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Law Enforcement Attaché Office in Abuja, the United States Department of State, Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice, the South African Police Service, and INTERPOL.