The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has successfully dismantled a sophisticated cross-border fraud syndicate, leading to the arrest of a suspect posing as a World Bank official and two others involved in Business Email Compromise (BEC).
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, confirmed the development in a statement released on Wednesday.
He described the feat as a major breakthrough in cybercrime investigations which highlights intensified efforts to tackle financial fraud, safeguard foreign investment, and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s digital economy.
In the first case, operatives dismantled a cross-border fraud syndicate and arrested one Agbor Martins Black-Diamond, also known as Oruojong Black Diamond Agbor Martins, for allegedly impersonating an official of the World Bank and other donor agencies.
According to police findings, the suspect defrauded two Kenyan nationals of $250,000 over a three-year period by falsely promising to facilitate access to international funding.
The victims were made to pay various fees, including registration and administrative charges, but no funding was secured.
Information made available said the suspect went further in 2024 by persuading the victims to obtain a bank loan using family property as collateral, with the promise of accessing a non-existent $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana.
He allegedly sustained the scheme by organising fake symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa.
The suspect was arrested on March 31, 2026.
Police said his foundation was not registered in Nigeria, and that he later registered another entity in November 2024 in what is believed to be an attempt to legitimise his activities.
The suspect is also accused of collecting N50,000 from farmers in Kuje Area Council under false empowerment claims.
“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.
“The suspect, Agbor Martins Black-Diamond (alias Oruojong Black Diamond Agbor Martins) , falsely represented himself as an official of the World Bank and other US-based donor partners.
“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.
“In 2024, he further induced the victims to secure a bank loan against their family property to access a non-existent $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana.
“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 United African Continent Limited in November 2024 to legitimize his illicit activities.
“Further findings indicate the suspect extended his fraudulent scheme to local farmers in Kuje Area Council, collecting ₦50,000 each under the guise of empowerment and capacity building,” the police said.
In a separate operation, the cybercrime unit arrested two suspects over a business email compromise scheme involving the diversion of N85 million from a company.
One of the suspects, Ayodele Daramola, an employee, allegedly conspired with an external accomplice, Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi, to gain unauthorised access to the company’s systems and reroute funds.
Police said the proceeds were shared, with about N67.15 million traced to Daramola.
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Of this amount, approximately N61 million was spent on online gambling and betting platforms.
Recovered items from the suspects include N4 million in cash, an unserviceable Lexus ES350 vehicle, a laptop and a mobile phone.
“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.
“The suspect was accused of unauthorized modification of computer systems, cybersquatting, and diversion of funds.
“He confessed to have used 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,” the police further noted.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining funds and prosecute those involved.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, reiterated that Nigeria is not a safe haven for cybercriminals.
He assured that all offenders exploiting digital systems would be tracked and brought to justice.
Investigations into the cases are ongoing.
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