The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has successfully secured the conviction of Mr. David Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, for his involvement in a cross-border oil fraud scheme worth over $1 million (USD).
The Force spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, saying that the conviction followed a petition by a United States–based energy company, which alleged that the suspect fraudulently obtained funds under the guise of facilitating legitimate crude oil transactions in Nigeria.
Hundeyin explained that upon receiving the petition, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) launched a detailed investigation that uncovered a sophisticated criminal network operated by Udensik between 2018 and 2023.
“The suspect was found to have forged official documents allegedly issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other regulatory agencies to deceive the foreign company”, Hundeyin said, adding that forensic analyses confirmed that the documents, seals, and authentication materials presented by the suspect were entirely fake, and that investigators also traced funds from the fraudulent transactions to multiple bank accounts belonging to the suspect and his associates.
After thorough investigation and prosecution, the Federal High Court, Abuja, on 22nd October 2025, found Udensik guilty of Forgery, Obtaining by False Pretence, and Money Laundering. The court further ordered the forfeiture of assets worth several hundreds of millions of Naira—including real estate and other properties acquired from the crime’s proceeds—to ensure restitution to the defrauded company.
Commending the officers who handled the case, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, lauded their professionalism and diligence throughout the investigation and trial process.
He reaffirmed the Force’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s corporate integrity and bringing cyber-enabled financial criminals to justice, regardless of their influence or location.
