A Nigerian man, Samuel Ugberaese, has been extradited to the United States to face charges linked to an alleged international cyber romance fraud operation, according to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
In a statement released on Wednesday and citing the U.S. Department of Justice, the embassy said the extradition followed investigations led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Authorities alleged that Ugberaese and his co-conspirators used online romance scam methods involving deceptive promises and fabricated personal stories to defraud victims into transferring funds.
The statement further alleged that Ugberaese worked alongside Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalised American citizen, to move illicit funds through a network of bank accounts.
According to investigators, some of the accounts were registered under supposed export companies to disguise the origin and ownership of criminal proceeds.
A U.S. court has already ordered Ugberaese to remain in custody pending trial.
The statement said Judge Brian Myers approved the detention as the case proceeds through the U.S. judicial system.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hulbig under the Fraud Section of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
U.S. authorities disclosed that a federal grand jury first indicted Ugberaese on 22 January 2021 over the alleged offences.
He is facing two criminal charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 40 years.
The statement also acknowledged the role played by the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Office, and the South African Police Service in securing the suspect’s arrest and extradition.
Other agencies involved in the operation included the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s legal attaché office in Abuja, and the U.S. Department of State.
