April 15, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a cross-border fraud network involving impersonation of international financial institutions, exposed a fake World Bank official operating across Africa, and uncovered a separate ₦85 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) syndicate, in a sweeping cybercrime crackdown led by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, confirmed that the coordinated operations were intelligence-led and form part of the Nigeria Police Force’s sustained strategic efforts to dismantle sophisticated cybercrime networks operating across domestic and transnational spheres.
The operations, described as intelligence-driven and multi-layered, underscore the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled financial crimes targeting individuals, businesses, and international development funding systems, even as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystem.
Operatives of the NPF-NCCC dismantled a transnational fraud syndicate following actionable intelligence from the East Africa Sub-Sahara Africa Safe Promotion Foundation (EA-SSASPF), a Nairobi-based organisation, leading to the arrest of Agbor Martins Black-Diamond (also known as Oruojong Black Diamond Agbor Martins), who allegedly posed as an official of the World Bank and other United States-based donor agencies.
The suspect reportedly used the false identity to defraud victims (Mr. Julius Kithome and Ms. Cynthia Kithome) of about $250,000 over three years, under the guise of registration and administrative fees for accessing non-existent donor funds.
Investigators said the victims were also induced into securing loans against family property in 2024 based on claims of an alleged $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana, which was later confirmed to be fictitious.
Further findings showed that the suspect organised staged international symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa to reinforce credibility and sustain the fraudulent scheme, while financial analysis traced payments amounting to $57,975 between February and July 2023, confirming sustained exploitation of the victims.
The suspect was arrested on 31 March 2026, while investigators discovered that his organisation, Black Diamond African Beauty Restoration Foundation, was not registered in Nigeria at the time of operations.
He later incorporated United African Continent Limited in November 2024, allegedly to legitimise fraudulent activities, with the scheme also extended locally to farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, where victims were allegedly defrauded of ₦50,000 each under false empowerment and capacity-building programmes.
In a separate operation, the NPF-NCCC arrested Chinedu Mbachu, a former employee of NewLife Ventures, Makurdi, following allegations of unauthorized system modification, cybersquatting, and diversion of customer funds.
Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly rerouted payments meant for the company into personal bank accounts, abusing access privileges after his employment. Items recovered from him include a Samsung A6 Plus mobile phone, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, and digital identity records, which are currently undergoing forensic examination.
In another breakthrough, the cybercrime centre arrested Ayodele Daramola (31) and Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi (29) over allegations of conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, breach of data privacy, unauthorized access to computer networks, and Business Email Compromise (BEC).
Investigations revealed that between May and December 2025, the suspects allegedly exploited internal communication systems of a private company to divert ₦85 million in corporate funds.
The stolen funds were allegedly routed through a commercial bank account belonging to Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi before being split between both suspects.
Further analysis showed that about ₦17.85 million (21%) was retained by Dada Babatunde, while approximately ₦67.15 million (79%) was transferred to an online bank account linked to Ayodele Daramola.
Police further established that about ₦61 million of the funds received by Daramola was allegedly spent on online gambling platforms, while the remaining funds were dispersed through various channels.
Recovered items from the suspects include ₦4 million cash, one unserviceable Lexus ES350 (Lagos registration: JJJ878JZ), one Dell laptop, and one iPhone 13 Pro Max. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining proceeds of crime and identify additional collaborators linked to the syndicate.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for cybercriminals, stressing that the Force is intensifying intelligence-led operations to dismantle both local and international fraud networks.
He noted that the convergence of impersonation fraud, insider-enabled theft, and Business Email Compromise reflects an evolving cyber threat landscape requiring stronger digital policing and international cooperation.
The Police assured the public and international partners of continued commitment to tracking, arresting, and prosecuting offenders while recovering illicitly acquired assets, adding that the latest breakthroughs demonstrate a strengthened cyber enforcement framework aimed at disrupting complex financial crime networks, protecting corporate systems, and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
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