South African authorities, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), on Friday announced the extradition of six Nigerian Black Axe cultists to the U.S. over their involvement in multimillion-dollar wire fraud and romance scams. 

Their extradition comes about five years after South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), popularly known as the Hawks, arrested them in a 2021 raid. 

Though their names were not disclosed on Friday, the Peoples Gazette’s review of a document released by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2021 revealed their names and the charges they were slammed with.

Perry Osagiede, 52, popularly known as  “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st,”  and “Rob Nicolella,” aka “Alan Salomon.” He was charged with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy.

Enorense Izevbigie, 45, also known as “Richy Izevbigie,” aka “Lord Samuel S Nujoma.” He was charged with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy.

Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 37, popularly known as “Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela” was charged with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy.

Osariemen Eric Clement, 35, popularly known as “Lord Adekunle Ajasi,” or “Aiden Wilson,” was charged with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy.

Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 37, popularly known as “Lord Jesse Makoko,” or “Philip Coughlan,” was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

Musa Mudashiru, 33, who is popularly known as “Lord Oba Akenzua,” was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. 

Investigations by U.S. authorities revealed that these six Nigerians were involved in different financial crimes spanning from 2011 to 2021.

According to documents filed in these cases, Mr Osagiede and his gang members were all leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, that operates in various countries. 

The Black Axe is organised into regional chapters known as “zones,” and the defendants were all leaders within the Cape Town, South Africa, Zone. 

According to the documents, Mr Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe and worked as its zonal head, along with Mr Izevbigie.

“Perry Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe and worked as its zonal head, along with Izevbigie.  The Black Axe defendants and other members of Black Axe took part in, and openly discussed, fraud schemes amongst their membership,” the U.S. Department of Justice stated.