Five Nigerian nationals allegedly linked to the Neo Black Movement of Africa, popularly known as Black Axe, have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The defendants could face a combined maximum of up to 100 years in prison if convicted on the charges filed against them, according to the United States Department of Justice.
The five men were scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp at the federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, for their initial appearances and arraignments.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the development in a statement issued by the Department of Justice on Monday.
The defendants were identified as Perry Osagiede, 57, also known by several aliases including “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st,” “Rob Nicolella” and “Alan Salomon”; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38.
The U.S. authorities said all five defendants are originally from Nigeria and were allegedly leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa within its Cape Town Zone in South Africa.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering over alleged activities spanning from 2011 to 2021.
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement also face individual wire fraud charges, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor were additionally charged with aggravated identity theft.
U.S. authorities alleged that Perry Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of the organisation and served as its zonal head.
Prosecutors further alleged that the defendants and other members of the group openly discussed and participated in fraudulent schemes targeting victims in the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the alleged criminal activities included romance scams and advance-fee fraud schemes.
The U.S. government alleged that the defendants operated from Cape Town and used social media platforms, online dating websites and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone numbers to establish contact with victims.
In some alleged romance scams, victims were reportedly made to believe they were in romantic relationships with individuals using fake identities.
The conspirators allegedly told victims that they were travelling to South Africa for work and needed money or valuable items after encountering fabricated emergencies, including problems involving construction sites or cranes.
Prosecutors further alleged that when some victims hesitated to send money, the suspects resorted to manipulative tactics, including threats to distribute private or sensitive photographs.
The alleged scheme also involved the use of bank accounts belonging to victims and other individuals with U.S.-based financial accounts to move funds to South Africa.
Authorities alleged that some victims were also persuaded to open financial accounts in the United States which the conspirators could subsequently access.
Beyond romance scams and advance-fee schemes, prosecutors alleged that the defendants were involved in laundering proceeds from business email compromise fraud.
According to the U.S. government, the alleged conspirators also used aliases and business entities to conceal the source and nature of funds.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Frazer said the defendants allegedly believed operating from outside the United States would shield them from prosecution.
“The alleged members of Black Axe believed that operating behind electronic devices thousands of miles away would place them beyond the reach of American justice. They were wrong,” Frazer said.
He added that the extradition demonstrated the commitment of U.S. authorities and their international partners to pursuing transnational criminal organisations regardless of where they operate.
FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy also described Black Axe as a “notoriously violent transnational criminal organization” that allegedly engages in romance scams to generate money.
She urged victims of online fraud to report their experiences to law enforcement to help investigators identify and prosecute those responsible.
The U.S. Secret Service also said the case followed a years-long investigation into alleged online fraud and money laundering schemes targeting victims in the United States.
The defendants were reportedly arrested in South Africa in 2021 following a request from U.S. authorities and were extradited to the United States on September 11, 2026.
The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The money laundering conspiracy charge also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.
Meanwhile, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence, which must be served consecutively to any other term imposed.
The investigation involved the FBI, U.S. Secret Service and several South African law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS), South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority and Asset Forfeiture Unit.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs also assisted in securing the arrests and extradition of the defendants.
The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
