Police, NCCC Bust Cross-Border Fraud Ring, Arrest Fake World Bank Official, Two Others
By Admin
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu,, has recorded significant breakthroughs in cybercrime investigations carried out by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
These operations underscore the Force’s unwavering commitment to combating financial fraud, safeguarding foreign direct investment, and preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystem.
In a major intelligence-led operation, the NPF-NCCC 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 based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Investigations revealed that two Kenyan nationals, Mr. Julius Kithome and Ms. Cynthia Kithome, were introduced to the prime suspect, Agbor Martins Black-Diamond (alias Oruojong Black Diamond Agbor Martins), by one Rev. Edy Ndeto in Nairobi. The suspect allegedly posed as an official of the World Bank and other United States-based donor agencies.
Preliminary findings showed that, relying on the suspect’s false claims, the victims transferred a total of $250,000 over a three-year period as purported registration and administrative fees to access donor funding. However, no such funding was ever secured. Instead, the suspect organized fraudulent symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa.
In 2024, he further induced the victims to obtain a bank loan using their family property as collateral, under the pretense of accessing a non-existent $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana.
Comprehensive financial analysis confirmed multiple inflows from the Kenyan victims, including $57,975 received between February and July 2023. The suspect was arrested on March 31, 2026.
Further investigation revealed that his organization, Black Diamond African Beauty Restoration Foundation, was not registered in Nigeria. He subsequently registered another entity, United African Continent Limited, in November 2024 in an attempt to legitimize his illicit operations.
The suspect was also found to have extended his fraudulent activities locally by collecting ₦50,000 from unsuspecting farmers in Kuje Area Council under the guise of empowerment and capacity-building programmes.
In a related development, on April 3, 2026, the NPF-NCCC, acting on a complaint filed by Lex Excellentia on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Enwelu of NewLife Ventures, Makurdi, arrested one Chinedu Mbachu, a former employee of the company.
The suspect was accused of unauthorized modification of computer systems, cybersquatting, and diversion of company funds. He reportedly confessed to using his personal bank accounts to receive payments from customers intended for the company. Items recovered from him include a Samsung A6 Plus mobile phone, a NIN paper slip, and a NIN digital slip.
Furthermore, following a petition by a private company over alleged financial misconduct, the NPF-NCCC arrested two suspects: Ayodele Daramola (31), an employee of the firm, and Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi (29), a non-staff collaborator.
The suspects are being investigated for criminal conspiracy, breach of data privacy, business email compromise (BEC), unauthorized access to computer networks, fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
Preliminary investigations revealed that between May and December 2025, Ayodele Daramola, who worked in investment booking, conspired with Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi to fraudulently divert company funds. The duo allegedly siphoned a total of ₦85,000,000 by exploiting internal systems and channeling the funds through a commercial bank account belonging to Dada Babatunde.
Analysis showed that approximately 21% (₦17,850,000) was retained by Dada Babatunde, while 79% (₦67,150,000) was transferred to an online account linked to Ayodele Daramola. Further findings indicate that about ₦61,000,000 of the diverted funds was spent on online gambling and betting platforms.
Recovered items include ₦4,000,000 in cash, an unserviceable Lexus ES350 (Reg. No. Lagos JJJ878JZ), a Dell laptop, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to recover the remaining funds and ensure all involved parties are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Inspector-General of Police reiterated that Nigeria is not a safe haven for cybercriminals, emphasizing that the Force will relentlessly pursue individuals and networks—both domestic and international—who exploit technology and cross-border systems for fraudulent purposes.
He further assured the public and the international community of the NPF’s continued commitment to protecting the digital economy and bringing offenders to justice.
