The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted a man, David Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, for his involvement in an international oil fraud worth over $1 million.
According to a statement by the Nigeria Police Force, the conviction followed a petition from a United States–based energy company that accused Udensik of defrauding it under the pretense of facilitating crude oil transactions in Nigeria.
Investigations by the National Cybercrime Centre revealed that Udensik operated a criminal network between 2018 and 2023, forging documents allegedly issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other agencies to deceive the company.
Forensic analysis confirmed that the documents, seals, and authentication materials used were fake. Funds traced from the fraudulent deal were reportedly diverted into accounts linked to Udensik and his accomplices.
Delivering judgment on October 22, 2025, the court found Udensik guilty of forgery, obtaining by false pretence, and money laundering. It also ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at several hundreds of millions of naira, including real estate and other properties derived from the proceeds of the crime, to enable restitution to the victim company.
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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to upholding Nigeria’s corporate integrity and ensuring that cyber-enabled financial criminals are brought to justice.
This conviction marks another significant step in the Police’s ongoing efforts to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes and transnational oil fraud, which have targeted several foreign firms over the years.
