A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded a man, Arinze Nwogba, in Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he impersonated the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Segun Aina, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered Nwogba’s remand on Friday after he pleaded not guilty to six counts contained in a charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
The court, however, fixed October 7 for ruling on the defendant’s bail application and October 19 for the commencement of trial.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, was filed by the police following a petition allegedly submitted by the JAMB registrar over the activities of suspected fraudsters using his name, photographs and identity without authorisation.
According to the prosecution, Nwogba allegedly operated a WhatsApp and Truecaller account with telephone number 08139433155, using Aina’s photograph and identity with the alleged intention of obtaining financial advantage.
The police said the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
During Friday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Nonso Eleodimuo, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.
After the six-count charge was read to him, Nwogba pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
His counsel, Christian Ejike, subsequently informed the court that the defence had filed a bail application on September 23, which had been served on the prosecution.
The prosecution acknowledged receipt of the application but urged the court to reject it.
In a counter-affidavit deposed to by Gregory Woje, a clerk at the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police alleged that several paragraphs in Nwogba’s affidavit were false, speculative and irrelevant to the case.
The prosecution further argued that granting bail could create a risk that the defendant might evade trial.
It told the court that the police were ready to prosecute the case expeditiously, adding that the relevant exhibits and witnesses were available.
In the brief facts of the case, the police alleged that investigators traced the activities of the suspected fraudsters to the telephone number linked to the fake JAMB registrar.
The prosecution alleged that the suspects also used LinkedIn to publicise the number and instructed interested persons to communicate with them through WhatsApp.
According to the police, investigators subsequently engaged the operators of the number in an undercover interaction.
The alleged fraudster reportedly told his targets that he wanted to award them a contract and claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme.
The suspect allegedly introduced another person, identified as “Dr Stephen Igwe”, as his personal assistant who would handle arrangements for the purported contract.
The prosecution alleged that the suspect subsequently demanded N900,000 as an initial payment, purportedly to facilitate the contract, and requested an additional N3m allegedly meant for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The police further alleged that an Access Bank account, numbered 1572799985 and bearing the name Edeh Chimezie Benedict, was supplied for the payments.
The prosecution said the N900,000 was allegedly described as money to be used to “settle” officials at the minister’s office.
The police said Nwogba, who allegedly operated under the name “Dr Stephen Igwe”, was later arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly told investigators that the bank account supplied to the supposed victims belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31.
The police further alleged that Nwogba admitted forwarding the account details to his cousin, identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa ‘M’ of Onitsha, Anambra State, for use in the alleged fraudulent operation.
The prosecution said Nwekpa, whom it described as the alleged mastermind behind the fake JAMB registrar identity, remained at large.
The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Meanwhile, Justice Ibrahim adjourned ruling on the bail application until October 7 and fixed October 19 for the commencement of trial.
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