•Face Up to 100 Years for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
Five Nigerian men accused of leading a notorious international fraud ring have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the development.
The suspected cult members, if convicted on all counts, may face a combined maximum sentence of up to 100 years in prison.
The defendants, Perry Osagiede, 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38, were extradited on September 11, 2026, following their 2021 arrest in Cape Town at the request of U.S. authorities.
They are scheduled to appear before the U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey.
According to U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer, the men were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for activities allegedly spanning a decade, from 2011 to 2021.
Frazer alleged that the five men led the Black Axe organisation's Cape Town Zone in South Africa.
The group is accused of orchestrating sophisticated internet fraud schemes, including romance scams and advance-fee fraud, specifically targeting victims in the United States.
The indictment alleged that the defendants used social media, online dating platforms, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers to identify and contact victims under false aliases.
Victims were reportedly manipulated into believing they were in romantic relationships before being persuaded to send money and valuables overseas, including to South Africa.
In some instances, the conspirators allegedly threatened to release sensitive photographs if victims hesitated to pay.
The U.S. Attorney's office further alleged that the group laundered proceeds from business email compromise schemes, romance scams, and advance-fee fraud through a network of aliases and shell business entities designed to conceal the illicit source of funds.
They are also accused of using U.S.-based bank accounts belonging to victims and other individuals to transfer the proceeds.
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