By Peter.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted David Udensik, alias Dr. Jacob Bello, for orchestrating a sophisticated transnational oil scam that defrauded a U.S.-based energy firm of more than $1 million, marking a significant win for Nigeria’s anti-cybercrime efforts. The ruling, delivered on October 22, 2025, followed a meticulous probe by the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), triggered by a formal complaint from the victim company accusing Udensik of posing as a facilitator for legitimate crude oil deals in Nigeria.
From 2018 to 2023, Udensik allegedly headed a coordinated syndicate that produced counterfeit documents mimicking official issuances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and various regulatory bodies, luring the firm into parting with substantial funds. Forensic scrutiny exposed the fakes—including bogus seals and authentication seals—while digital trails led investigators to diverted proceeds funneled into accounts controlled by Udensik and his associates, unmasking a broader network preying on global oil traders from Nigeria, China, and the U.S., with total losses exceeding $4 million in related schemes.
In its judgment, the court held Udensik accountable on counts of forgery, obtaining money under false pretenses, and money laundering, mandating the forfeiture of high-value assets—such as real estate and other properties worth hundreds of millions of naira—to enable restitution for the aggrieved company. Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin hailed the outcome as a testament to rigorous police work, with Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun praising the team’s professionalism and reaffirming the NPF’s dedication to shielding Nigeria’s business reputation from cyber predators, no matter their reach.
This case underscores the NPF’s intensified crackdown on digital-enabled financial crimes, particularly in the volatile oil sector, where impersonation of state entities has ensnared numerous international victims over the last decade—prompting calls for enhanced global partnerships to dismantle such syndicates at their roots.
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