The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a fraud syndicate allegedly exploiting the identity of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to defraud members of the public, arresting one suspect while intensifying efforts to apprehend the alleged mastermind.
Confirming the report, Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja CSP Ani Iniedu said operatives of the Force Intelligence, Operations and Investigation Unit attached to the JAMB National Headquarters launched the investigation following a petition filed on August 10, 2026, by the JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, alleging criminal conspiracy, impersonation, identity theft and fraud.
Following approval from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, the operatives commenced investigations that extended to Nasarawa and Katsina states in a bid to trace members of the syndicate.
Police investigations, however, established that some of the individuals initially traced in the two states were themselves victims of the fraud, having been deceived by criminals impersonating the JAMB Registrar.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the syndicate allegedly created fake social media accounts using the Registrar’s identity and employed them to defraud unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of offering official JAMB-related services.
As part of the investigation, police intelligence operatives analysed telephone numbers and bank account details allegedly used in the fraudulent transactions. The trail eventually led investigators to Anambra State, where they arrested Nwogba Arinze, who allegedly posed as the Registrar’s Personal Assistant.
Arinze was arrested on August 27, 2026. Further investigation reportedly revealed that he had been using the bank account of his deceased nephew, Edeh Chimezie Benedict, allegedly to conceal his identity and evade detection.
Police said Arinze had been entrusted with the late nephew’s account details and debit cards to facilitate funeral arrangements following his death, with the funeral held on July 31, 2026.
Investigators are now pursuing the alleged principal suspect, Nnabuife Nwekpa, said to be a close relative of Arinze. The police said Arinze remains in custody and is cooperating with investigators to facilitate the arrest of Nwekpa and uncover other members of the syndicate.
The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to remain vigilant and verify purported official communications before making payments or divulging personal information.
The Force also advised citizens to promptly report suspicious online activities to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to dismantling criminal networks, combating cyber-enabled fraud and protecting the integrity of public institutions across the country.
