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Amidat Abdul Fatai
The Federal High Court in Abuja has committed Arinze Nwogba to the Kuje Correctional Center on charges of impersonating the Registrar of the Joint Board of Admissions and Matriculation, Prof. Segun Aina, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Judge Salim Ibrahim on Friday ordered Nwogba remanded in custody pending his decision on the accused’s bail application.
The judge set October 7, 2026 to rule on the bail application and adjourned the case to October 19 for the trial to begin.
Nwogba, who was arraigned on a six-count charge filed by the Inspector General of Police, has pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, was dated September 18 and filed on September 21 by police through his lawyer, Samuel Mallum.
The prosecution alleged that Nwogba, together with other suspects believed to be at large, fraudulently impersonated Aina in 2026 and used the name and photograph of the JAMB registrar on WhatsApp and Truecaller in a bid to gain financial advantage.
The alleged offenses are deemed to contravene the provisions of section 22(3)(a)(b) and (4) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
During Friday’s proceedings, Police Prosecutor, Nonso Eleodimuo, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for Nwogba’s arraignment.
After the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer, Christian Ejike, subsequently drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed on September 23, informing the judge that the prosecution had been served and responded.
Ejike urged the court to grant bail to his client on liberal terms.
However, Eleodimuo urged the court to reject the request.
In a counter affidavit filed by Gregory Woje, an employee at the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police argued that several paragraphs in Nwogba’s affidavit in support of bail were false and speculative.
The prosecution further said that granting bail to the accused could create the possibility of him evading justice and not appearing for trial.
The police argued that all the necessary exhibits and witnesses were ready and that the case could be prosecuted quickly.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Ibrahim reserved his decision on bail until October 7.
According to the prosecution documents, the investigation followed a petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police by the JAMB Registrar regarding the alleged activities of persons using his name and photographs without his authorization.
Police said the suspects registered the phone number 08139433155 and used it on WhatsApp and Truecaller introducing themselves as JAMB registrars.
The number was also allegedly advertised on LinkedIn, with the public invited to contact the alleged registrar via WhatsApp.
The prosecution said investigators subsequently engaged the alleged scammers via the advertised WhatsApp number.
According to the police account, the author of the aforementioned account claimed to be the registrar of JAMB and told potential victims that he had obtained approval for a contract involving the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitization programme.
The alleged impersonator also allegedly claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the contract.
The prosecution further alleged that the suspect had provided the telephone number of an alleged personal assistant identified as Dr Stephen Igwe, who was supposed to handle the arrangements for the alleged contract.
Police said the suspect had asked for an initial sum of ₦900,000, described in the messages as “handshake” money, and later requested another ₦3 million, allegedly intended for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The prosecution further stated that an account at Access Bank was provided for the payment, with the account name listed as Edeh Chimezie Benedict.
According to the police, the alleged suspect claimed that the initial sum of ₦900,000 would be used to bribe officials in the minister’s office.
The prosecution said Nwogba, whose alleged working name was Dr Stephen Igwe, was eventually arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Police said that during investigations, Nwogba claimed that the bank account details belonged to his late nephew, who reportedly died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31.
Police further said Nwogba admitted to forwarding the account details to his cousin, identified as Nnabuiife Nwekpa M., of Onitsha, Anambra State, for use in the alleged fraudulent operation.
Nwekpa, according to the prosecution, is currently at large.
Police said efforts were underway to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Meanwhile, Nwogba remains in custody at the Kuje Correctional Center awaiting the court’s ruling on his bail application on October 7, with his trial scheduled to begin on October 19, 2026.
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