Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
SIX Nigerian nationals accused of belonging to the Black Axe criminal organisation have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face charges relating to multimillion-dollar wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
South African authorities, working with the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, announced the extradition on Friday, several years after the suspects were arrested during a 2021 operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks.
The six men were identified in US Department of Justice documents relating to the cases against them.
They are Perry Osagiede, 52, also known as “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st” and “Rob Nicolella”; Enorense Izevbigie, 45, also known as “Richy Izevbigie” and “Lord Samuel S Nujoma”; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 37, also known as “Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela”; Osariemen Eric Clement, 35, also known as “Lord Adekunle Ajasi” and “Aiden Wilson”; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 37, also known as “Lord Jesse Makoko” and “Philip Coughlan”; and Musa Mudashiru, 33, also known as “Lord Oba Akenzua”.
According to US authorities, Perry Osagiede, Izevbigie, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Otughwor and Mudashiru were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
US investigators alleged that the suspects were involved in financial crimes between 2011 and 2021, including wire fraud and romance scams.
Alleged Black Axe Leadership
Court documents cited by US authorities alleged that the defendants were leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, commonly known as Black Axe, an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, with members operating in different countries.
According to the documents, the organisation operates through regional chapters known as zones, with the six defendants allegedly linked to the Cape Town Zone in South Africa.
The US Department of Justice alleged that Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone and served as its zonal head alongside Izevbigie.
US authorities further alleged that members of the group participated in and discussed fraudulent schemes among themselves.
The allegations form part of criminal proceedings in the United States, where the defendants are expected to face the charges brought against them.
The extradition marks the latest development in a case that began with the suspects’ arrests in South Africa in 2021.
US and South African authorities have continued to collaborate in pursuing suspects accused of participating in transnational financial crimes, particularly schemes involving online fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
Source: People’s Gazette