South Africa extradites six Nigerians to US over alleged $6.2 million romance scam targeting more than 100 women

South Africa has extradited six Nigerian nationals to the United States to face charges over an alleged internet-fraud operation that reportedly took more than $6.2 million from over 100 American women.

• South Africa has extradited six Nigerians to the United States to face internet-fraud charges.
• Prosecutors accuse them of operating romance scams and laundering the proceeds through Cape Town.
• More than 100 American women allegedly lost over $6.2 million.
• The transfer comes as political relations between Nigeria and South Africa deteriorate over attacks on Nigerian migrants.

The men, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, were handed to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport on Friday.

They are wanted in the United States on charges including wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft, according to South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.

The transfer comes at an unusually tense moment in relations between Africa’s two largest economies.

This comes a day after Nigeria’s parliament suspended official visits to South Africa⁠ over recurring attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants.

Abuja says at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob attacks, hate-related violence and alleged extrajudicial killings in South Africa since 2022. Nigeria has also evacuated 1,695 citizens from the country this year.

The parliamentary action does not prevent all Nigerian government engagements with South Africa. The extradition case also primarily involves cooperation between South African and US authorities rather than a new agreement with Abuja.

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However, the timing illustrates the two contrasting sides of Nigeria’s relationship with South Africa: political relations are worsening over the treatment of Nigerian migrants, while South African authorities continue pursuing Nigerian suspects accused of using the country as a base for international financial crime.

Alleged operation ran from Cape Town for a decade

The US Department of Justice initially charged eight Nigerians in connection with the investigation in 2021.

According to the Justice Department⁠, the alleged network operated from Cape Town between 2011 and 2021.

Prosecutors say its members used social media, dating websites, false identities and internet-based telephone numbers to find victims in the United States.

Some victims believed they were in genuine relationships with the people behind the profiles. The supposed romantic partners would then claim they had travelled to South Africa for construction work but needed emergency money.

The stories allegedly involved accidents, unpaid foreign taxes, legal problems or damaged equipment. A broken crane at a South African construction site featured repeatedly in the messages described by prosecutors.

Victims reportedly sent money, mobile phones, computers and other valuables to South Africa.

Some were persuaded to open American bank accounts that the alleged fraudsters could access. Prosecutors also say personal photographs were sometimes used to pressure women who became reluctant to make additional payments.

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The alleged victims included pensioners and businesspeople. South African police placed their combined losses above $6.2 million (R100 million).

Suspects accused of leading Black Axe’s Cape Town branch

The extradited defendants are Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Musa Mudashiru and Toritseju Gabriel Otubu, according to the US case record.

Prosecutors accuse five of the men of holding leadership positions in the Cape Town branch of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as Black Axe. Otubu is accused of working with a leader of the organisation.

The Justice Department says the organisation is headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, and operates through international branches called zones.

The defendants allegedly used South African companies and bank accounts to conceal the source and movement of money obtained through romance scams, advance-fee fraud and compromised business emails.

Enorense Izevbigie, another defendant arrested in South Africa, was extradited to the United States in December 2024⁠. He was subsequently detained pending trial after appearing before a federal court in New Jersey.

Another man named in the wider case, Egbe Tony Iyamu, was previously listed by American prosecutors as a fugitive.

Charges could carry lengthy prison sentences

The new defendants are expected to face proceedings in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracy can each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other prison term imposed.

Those are statutory maximums rather than sentences already imposed.

The extradition moves a five-year legal process from South African courts to an American courtroom. Prosecutors must still prove the fraud, financial losses and alleged Black Axe links beyond a reasonable doubt.