Court Remands Alleged Fake JAMB Registrar

The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Arinze Nwogba in Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he impersonated the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that Nwogba remain in custody pending a ruling on his bail application. The judge fixed October 7 for the ruling and adjourned the case until October 19 for the commencement of trial.

Nwogba is the sole defendant in a six-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026. The charge was dated September 18 and filed on September 21 by police prosecutor Samuel Mallum.

According to the prosecution, Nwogba and other suspects still at large allegedly impersonated Aina in 2026 with the intention of obtaining financial benefits. He was accused of using the JAMB registrar’s name and photographs on WhatsApp and Truecaller through telephone number 08139433155.

The alleged offences were brought under Section 22(3)(a)(b) and (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

When the matter came up on Friday, police counsel Nonso Eleodimuo told the court that the case was scheduled for Nwogba’s arraignment. The charge was read to the defendant, after which he pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

Nwogba’s lawyer, Christian Ejike, subsequently informed the court that he had filed a bail application on September 23. He said the prosecution had been served and had responded to the application.

Eleodimuo confirmed that the prosecution received the bail application and had filed a counter-affidavit dated October 2. After Ejike argued the application, he asked the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that releasing Nwogba could create a risk of him evading trial. In the counter-affidavit, Gregory Woje, a clerk with the Directorate of Legal Services at Force Headquarters, Abuja, described several statements in the defendant’s affidavit as false and speculative.

The police also argued that any bail granted should come with conditions capable of ensuring the defendant’s appearance throughout the trial. The prosecution told the court that the police were prepared to proceed with the case and that witnesses and exhibits were available.

The case arose from a petition reportedly submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by the JAMB registrar over the activities of suspected fraudsters allegedly using Aina’s name and photographs without his authorisation.

The police alleged that the suspects used the identity of the JAMB registrar to deceive members of the public and advertised the telephone number on LinkedIn, directing prospective victims to communicate through WhatsApp.

According to the prosecution, investigators contacted the suspected fraudsters through the advertised number as part of their investigation. The person allegedly operating the account used Aina’s photograph as his profile picture and claimed to be able to offer contracts approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The prosecution alleged that the suspect told potential victims that the ministry had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme. He allegedly introduced another person as his personal assistant and directed victims to communicate with that individual regarding the supposed contract.

The police further alleged that the suspects demanded N900,000 as an initial payment and another N3 million purportedly for officials at the Ministry of Education. An Access Bank account was allegedly provided for the payment, with the account bearing the name Edeh Chimezie Benedict.

Investigators subsequently arrested Nwogba in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The prosecution said he operated under the name Dr Stephen Igwe.

According to the police account presented in court, Nwogba claimed that the bank account details used in the alleged fraud belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31. He allegedly admitted forwarding the account details to his cousin, identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa of Onitsha, Anambra State, for use in the alleged fraudulent operation.

The police said Nwekpa, whom they identified as another suspect allegedly involved in the impersonation, remains at large and that efforts are ongoing to arrest him.

The court will rule on Nwogba’s bail application on October 7, while the trial is scheduled to begin on October 19.