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The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed a judgment in the Cape Town magistrate’s court which found that online romance scams allegedly committed by members of the so-called Black Axe syndicate, were extraditable.
NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the court also found last week that the certificate issued by the United States of America, binds the court and there was enough evidence to prosecute the accused.
He said Perry Osagiede, Enorense Izevbiege, Franklin Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Musa Mudashiru, Prince Ibeabuchi Mark, and Toritseju Gabriel Otubu, were arrested and charged with wire fraud conspiracy in violation of US laws.
The charges reportedly span the period between 2011 to 2021 when they were charged.
Ntabazalila said the State alleges the eight worked as a collective and would contact potential victims by email or social media, including online dating websites.
They would use false identities to dupe victims into romantic, online, relationships with fake personas before swaying their victims to send money to accounts in South Africa.
Ntabazalila said the state was applying for their extradition, which they are opposing.
He said the extradition hearing of Osagiede and others will resume on 19 February 2024, while Otubu will return to court on 12 April.
