The Nigeria Police Force through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja has extradited Samuel Ugberease, popularly known as Putsammy, Putput, and Sammy, to the United States of America over allegations of online romance scam, wire fraud, and other financial crimes.
The suspect, who reportedly resided in South Africa before his arrest, was extradited on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, after the completion of extradition proceedings and extensive collaboration between Nigerian and United States law enforcement agencies.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, investigations revealed that between 2014 and 2018, the suspect and members of his syndicate allegedly carried out online romance scams targeting women in the United States, particularly in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Police investigations showed that the group created fake online identities and dating profiles to elish emotional relationships with victims before deceiving them into sending huge sums of money through fabricated stories and false emergencies. Authorities further disclosed that the proceeds from the fraudulent activities were moved through multiple bank accounts in a bid to conceal the illicit funds.
In one of the documented cases, Samuel Ugberease was allegedly linked to the defrauding of a victim of more than 1.5 million United States dollars.
The suspect was first arrested by operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 14, 2025, shortly after arriving from South Africa. His arrest followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by authorities in the United States.
The Federal High Court in Lagos later approved his extradition in line with Nigeria’s Extradition Act. The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to fighting cybercrime, financial fraud, and transnational organized crimes through international cooperation and intelligence driven policing.
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