Nigeria Police extradites Chinese fugitive in $245m ponzi bust

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigeria’s INTERPOL team has arrested and deported Chinese fugitive Xu Qing, accused of masterminding a $245 million Ponzi scheme, back to China for prosecution.

DCP Anthony Okon Placid, Force PRO, in a statement on Wednesday announced, “The Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, has successfully arrested and repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Xu Qing, to the People’s Republic of China to face charges related to large-scale illegal absorption of public deposits through a Ponzi scheme.”

Xu escaped China on November 5, 2024, and hid in Ogun State until his April 24, 2026, arrest at a factory in Olowotedo, Siun Village. He was flown out four days later.

“The suspect fled China to Nigeria on 5th November 2024 in an attempt to evade arrest, following which a warrant was issued against him on 12th November 2025 by the Shinan Sub-Bureau of Qingdao Public Security,” Placid added.

IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu hailed the collaboration and warned employers: conduct police background checks on foreign hires.

The NPF vows to crush cross-border crime.