Nigeria Police Breaks Up International Fraud Ring, Snags Impostor Posing as World Bank Official and Accomplices

The Nigeria Police says it has recorded multiple major breakthroughs in cybercrime investigations conducted by its National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC.

The Police said these operations underscore its unwavering resolve to combat financial fraud, protect foreign direct investment, and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystem.

“In an intelligence-led operation, the NPF-NCCC has dismantled a sophisticated cross-border fraud syndicate, following actionable intelligence received from the East Africa Sub-Sahara Africa Safe Promotion (EA-SSASPF) Foundation, a registered NGO in Nairobi, Kenya, one Mr Julius Kithome and Ms. Cynthia Kithome, were introduced to the suspect by one Rev. Edy Ndeto in Nairobi,” a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, explained.

The Police said the suspect, Agbor Martins Black-Diamond also known as Oruojong Black Diamond Agbor Martins, falsely represented himself as an official of the World Bank and other US-based donor partners.

It said that preliminary investigation revealed that the complainants relying on the fraudulent claims, transferred a total of USD $250,000 over three years for purported registration and administrative fees meant to unlock donor funding.

“No funding was ever secured. Instead, the suspect organized sham symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa,” the statement added.

It said in 2024, the suspect further induced the victims to secure a bank loan against their family property to access a non-existent $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana.

The Police said that thorough investigation and financial analysis confirmed substantial inflows from the Kenyan victims, including $57,975 between February and July 2023.

“The suspect was arrested on 31st March 2026, and his entity, Black Diamond African Beauty Restoration Foundation, was found unregistered in Nigeria, prompting him to register as United African Continent Limited in November 2024 to legitimize his illicit activities,” it added.

It said further findings indicate the suspect extended his fraudulent scheme to local farmers in Kuje Area Council, collecting N50,000 each under the guise of empowerment and capacity building.

Similarly, the Police said on 3rd April 2026, the NPF-NCCC, following a complaint by Lex Excellentia on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Enwelu of NewLife Ventures Makurdi, arrested one Chinedu Mbachu, a former employee.

It said that the suspect was accused of unauthorized modification of computer systems, cybers quatting, and diversion of funds.

He was said to have confessed to using his personal bank accounts to receive customer payments intended for the company, one samsung A6 Plus Mobile Phone, NIN Paper Slip, NIN Digital Slip were recovered from him.

He informed that the NPF-NCCC following a petition received by a private company about allegations of financial misconduct in the company arrested two suspects namely, Ayodele Daramola (31) who is an employee of the company, and one Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi (29) for criminal conspiracy, breach of data privacy, business email compromise, unauthorised access to computer network, fraud, money laundering, and forgery.

The Police said that preliminary investigations revealed that between May and December 2025, Ayodele Daramola, an employee in the position of Investment Booking, conspired with Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi a non-staff member to fraudulently divert company funds.

The suspects allegedly siphoned a total sum of N85,000,000.00 by exploiting internal systems and channeling the funds through a commercial bank account belonging to Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi.

“From the proceeds, 21% approximately N17,850,000.00 was retained by Dada Babatunde, while 79% approximately N67,150,000.00 was transferred to an online bank account linked to Ayodele Daramola.

A cash sum of N4,000,000.00, one unserviceable Lexus ES350 (Reg. No. Lagos JJJ878JZ), one Dell Laptop, one iPhone 13 Pro Max were recovered from the suspects.

“Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to recover the remaining funds and prosecute all parties involved in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

It said that IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu reiterated that Nigeria is not a safe haven for cybercriminals and that the Force will relentlessly pursue all persons, domestic or foreign, who exploit technology, internal systems, and cross-border partnerships for fraudulent purposes.

He assured the public and the international community of the NPF’s commitment to protecting the digital economy and bringing all perpetrators to justice.