Five Nigerians based in South Africa could face a combined maximum sentence of up to 100 years in prison if convicted on conspiracy charges arising from an alleged international wire fraud and money laundering scheme.
The men were extradited from South Africa to the United States on September 11 and were scheduled to appear before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, according to the US Department of Justice.
The 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.
US authorities alleged that the men defrauded American women of more than $6m through online romance scams. They were arrested in Cape Town in 2021 following a request from US authorities and remained in South Africa during extradition proceedings.
According to the Department of Justice, the five were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering over activities allegedly carried out between 2011 and 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.
Frazer alleged that the defendants were leaders of Black Axe, which he described as an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, with operations in several countries.
The alleged scheme involved targeting victims through online romantic relationships before obtaining money from them, according to US prosecutors.
The case is now before the US federal court, where the defendants will face the allegations against them. The charges remain accusations, and the five men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
