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ABUJA, NIGERIA — By Prime Brief Media
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has confirmed the arrest of one Agbor Martins Black-Diamond for alleged involvement in a sophisticated cyber fraud operation involving the impersonation of World Bank officials and the creation of fake development grant schemes.
According to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, the suspect was apprehended following weeks of digital surveillance and intelligence gathering. The operation was triggered by a surge in complaints from members of the public who reported receiving communications claiming they had been selected for multi-million Naira grants from the "World Bank Poverty Alleviation Programme"—an entity which sources confirm does not exist in the capacity described.
Preliminary investigations by the NPF-NCCC indicate that Black-Diamond operated a cluster of fraudulent domains and cloned social media accounts, primarily on Facebook and WhatsApp, where he posed as a senior World Bank portfolio manager. Victims were required to pay a "processing fee" or "tax clearance charge" ranging from N50,000 to N250,000 to unlock the phantom grants.
"The suspect is a repeat offender with a deep understanding of social engineering tactics," a cybercrime investigator familiar with the case told Prime Brief Media, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the probe. "He specifically targeted retirees and small business owners by using official-looking letterheads and forged signatures of actual World Bank executives."
Detectives recovered multiple SIM cards, a laptop containing templates for fake award certificates, and evidence of several completed fraudulent transactions during the arrest operation in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The World Bank Country Office in Nigeria has consistently warned the public that the institution does not offer direct grants to individuals via social media or email solicitations.
The Force Public Relations Officer reiterated that the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation. The NPF-NCCC has also advised Nigerians to verify the authenticity of any online financial proposition by cross-referencing with official institutional websites and the police cybercrime reporting portal.
Prime Brief Media continues to monitor developments in Nigeria's digital security landscape and will provide updates on this case as legal proceedings commence.