Five Nigerians living in South Africa have been extradited to the United States to face charges linked to alleged wire fraud and money laundering, with the defendants potentially facing a combined maximum sentence of about 100 years if convicted.
The suspects were taken to the US on September 11, 2026, after being arrested in Cape Town in 2021 at the request of American authorities. They were accused of defrauding American women of more than $6m through online romance scams.
The five defendants were identified by US Attorney Robert Frazer as Perry Osagiede, 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38.
They were expected to appear before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, following a superseding indictment filed against them.
The indictment accused the men of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in schemes allegedly carried out between 2011 and 2021.
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement also face separate wire fraud charges, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor were additionally charged with aggravated identity theft.
Frazer alleged that the defendants were leaders of Black Axe, which he described as an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, with chapters operating in different countries.
He said the men were associated with its Cape Town Zone in South Africa, which Perry Osagiede allegedly founded and headed.
According to the prosecutor, the group allegedly used social media, dating platforms and internet-based telephone numbers to establish contact with victims in the US, often adopting false identities.
The victims were allegedly manipulated into believing they were involved in romantic relationships before being persuaded to send money and valuables abroad.
The prosecutor further alleged that some victims were threatened with the release of intimate photographs when they refused or delayed further payments, while proceeds from romance scams, advance-fee fraud and business email compromise schemes were allegedly transferred through US bank accounts and business entities to disguise their origins.
Under US law, the wire fraud conspiracy and individual wire fraud charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000.
The money laundering conspiracy charge also carries a maximum 20-year sentence, with a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is higher.
Aggravated identity theft attracts a mandatory two-year sentence to be served consecutively to other prison terms.
The US Department of Justice, however, cautioned that the allegations contained in the indictment had not been proved in court and that the defendants remained presumed innocent unless found guilty.
