The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has apprehended a 26-year-old serial fraudster, Emmanuel Akataka, for allegedly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to defraud dozens of candidates seeking to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Akataka, who was previously arrested and pardoned for similar offences, reportedly confessed to using the AI tool, Gemini, to craft highly convincing messages. These communications were designed to convince unsuspecting students that he was a genuine official capable of “upgrading” their scores and securing university admissions.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Zainab Hamza, revealed that Akataka operated under the fictitious persona of “Official Frederick.” Through a dedicated WhatsApp platform, the suspect successfully lured at least 94 candidates into paying for illegal and non-existent services.
“He created a fictitious identity known as ‘Official Frederick’ through which he established a WhatsApp platform used to advertise false services such as score inflation,” Hamza stated. “Through this scheme, he deceived no fewer than 94 candidates into soliciting for score enhancement by paying for this illegal and non-existent service.”
The investigation took a darker turn when it was revealed that Akataka targeted the same victims twice. After his initial arrest and subsequent release on bail, the suspect rebranded himself as “Sir Frederick” and approached the candidates whose registrations had been cancelled due to their prior involvement with him. He allegedly demanded N70,000 from each student, falsely claiming he could reverse the cancellations through his alleged contacts within the Board.
To bolster his credibility, Akataka initially used his father’s bank account before opening a new account under the name “Zainab Rafiu,” whom he falsely presented as a Director of JAMB.
“It is deeply concerning that the same candidates involved in the initial infraction, again, fell victim to yet another fraudulent scheme,” Hamza noted. “This troubling pattern raises serious concerns about the growing willingness among some candidates to pursue unlawful advantage, rather than exercise the judgment and integrity expected of them.”
When confronted by journalists, Akataka admitted to the crimes but pleaded for leniency. He claimed that financial desperation and the push to care for his sick mother drove him back to a life of crime after his initial pardon.
He noted that the AI tool made it possible for him to appear genuine, and that the volume of feedback he was receiving suggested the number of victims was set to increase significantly.
The Board emphasised that UTME results are tamper-proof and warned that engaging with such schemes constitutes a violation of the law. The Registrar reminded the public that no individual or group can influence UTME results or manipulate candidate registration under any circumstances. Candidates who patronise these services expose themselves to both financial loss and severe legal consequences.
The Board confirmed that it has secured the conviction of more than six offenders between 2025 and the present. This includes Ibrahim Abdulaziz, who was recently sentenced to three years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine for impersonation.
“The integrity of the nation’s examination system remains non-negotiable, and the Board will not relent in safeguarding it,” the Registrar maintained.
Akataka has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
