The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspected member of a syndicate allegedly impersonating the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Segun Aina, to defraud members of the public.
The police said the suspect, identified as Nwogba Arinze, was arrested in Anambra State on August 27, 2026, after investigators traced telephone numbers and bank accounts allegedly linked to the fraudulent operation.
The Force also declared one Nnabuife Nwekpa, described as Arinze’s close relative and the alleged principal suspect, wanted, saying efforts were ongoing to locate and arrest him.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the investigation followed a petition submitted by the JAMB Registrar on August 10.
The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, impersonation, identity theft and fraud.
According to the police, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, approved the petition for investigation, after which operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence, Operations and Investigation Unit attached to JAMB’s National Headquarters commenced investigations.
The initial phase of the investigation led operatives to Nasarawa and Katsina states, where some persons suspected of being connected to the scheme were traced.
However, further investigation reportedly established that the persons initially tracked were themselves victims of the alleged fraud.
The police said the suspects had been deceived by individuals allegedly operating fake social media accounts in the name and identity of the JAMB Registrar.
The syndicate allegedly used the accounts to pose as the JAMB chief and offer purported official services to unsuspecting members of the public, thereby obtaining money and possibly personal or banking information from victims.
The investigation subsequently focused on the telephone numbers and bank accounts allegedly used in the transactions, leading detectives to Anambra State and the arrest of Arinze.
The police alleged that Arinze posed as the personal assistant to the JAMB Registrar during the fraudulent activities.
A further twist emerged when investigators allegedly discovered that Arinze had been using the bank account of his deceased nephew, Edeh Chimezie Benedict.
According to the Force, Arinze had been entrusted with the deceased’s account details and debit cards to facilitate funeral arrangements held on July 31, 2026.
Investigators alleged that he subsequently used the banking details in connection with the fraudulent activities, apparently to conceal his identity and make it more difficult for investigators to trace the transactions to him.
The police said the investigation also identified Nwekpa as the alleged principal suspect in the operation.
Nwekpa, however, remains at large, while Arinze is being held in police custody and is assisting investigators as they work to unravel the full structure of the alleged syndicate.
The Force said efforts were also being intensified to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the scheme.
The police urged members of the public to be wary of individuals claiming to represent JAMB, government agencies or public officials through social media, particularly where such persons demand payments or request personal and banking details.
The Force advised members of the public to report suspicious online activities to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
The Inspector-General of Police, the statement added, reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to combating cybercrime, fraud and impersonation while protecting public confidence in government institutions.
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