Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) National Headquarters have dismantled an online fraud syndicate impersonating the exam body’s Registrar, arresting one suspect while launching a manhunt for the principal culprit.
The crackdown followed a petition submitted on August 10, 2026, by JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, who alerted law enforcement to criminal conspiracy, identity theft, and fraudulent activities carried out under his name.
“The syndicate created fake social media accounts using the Registrar’s identity to defraud unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of providing official services,” revealed CSP Ani Iniedu, Force Public Relations Officer, in an official statement released from the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Police intelligence initially led investigators to Nasarawa and Katsina States, though individuals tracked there turned out to be victims who the fraudsters had duped.
Further tracking of bank account details and phone numbers pinpointed the operations to Anambra State, where detectives arrested Nwogba Arinze on August 27, 2026. Arinze had allegedly been posing as the Personal Assistant to the JAMB Registrar.
Investigators uncovered a macabre tactic used by the suspect to evade law enforcement: Arinze utilised the bank account and debit cards of his deceased nephew, Edeh Chimezie Benedict, which had been handed to him to assist with funeral arrangements on July 31, 2026, to receive illicit funds and cover his tracks.
“Arinze used the bank account of his deceased nephew to conceal his identity and evade detection,” CSP Iniedu stated, adding that the suspect remains in custody and is cooperating with ongoing investigations.
Authorities are currently pursuing the fleeing principal suspect, Nnabuife Nwekpa, a close relative of Arinze who remains at large.
Reiterating the police force’s stance on digital financial crime, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urged the public to stay vigilant against fake online profiles.
“The general public should remain vigilant and report suspicious online activities immediately to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre,” the Force PRO quoted the IGP as stating, emphasising the police’s commitment to “combating crime and upholding public integrity across the nation.”
