Five Nigerians resident in South Africa have been brought to the United States to face prosecution over alleged wire fraud and money laundering, with the charges carrying potential combined prison sentences of up to 100 years.
The defendants were extradited from South Africa to the US on September 11, 2026, following their arrest in Cape Town in 2021 at the request of American authorities. They are accused of involvement in online romance scams that allegedly defrauded victims in the United States of more than $6m.
The accused persons are Perry Osagiede, 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38, according to US Attorney Robert Frazer.
The men were due to be arraigned before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, after prosecutors filed a superseding indictment containing several conspiracy and fraud charges.
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants participated in fraudulent activities between 2011 and 2021. Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement were separately charged with wire fraud, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor were also accused of aggravated identity theft.
Frazer alleged that the five men held leadership positions in Black Axe, which he described as a Nigeria-based organisation with an international presence. He said the defendants operated within the group’s Cape Town Zone, with Perry Osagiede allegedly serving as its founder and leader.
The prosecutor claimed that the suspects and other alleged members used dating websites, social media and internet telephone services to contact people in America while hiding behind assumed identities. Their targets were allegedly persuaded to believe they were engaged in genuine romantic relationships before being asked to send money and other valuables.
Frazer also alleged that some victims were threatened with the publication of private photographs if they stopped sending money. He said funds allegedly obtained through romance scams, advance-fee fraud and business email compromise were moved through bank accounts and business arrangements in an attempt to conceal their origins.
The DOJ said the major fraud-related charges could each attract up to 20 years in prison, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. The money laundering conspiracy charge also carries a maximum 20-year term, alongside possible financial penalties.
The US authorities stressed that the allegations against the five Nigerians remain unproven in court. The defendants are presumed innocent until the prosecution proves the charges against them beyond the required legal standard.