The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted N50 million bail to Arinze Nwogba, who is facing a six-count charge over an alleged scheme in which fraudsters posed as the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to extract money from members of the public.
Justice Salim Ibrahim held that the offences were bailable and not capital, and said Nwogba’s affidavit indicated he would not abscond and would attend trial. The judge admitted him to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum, but ordered that he remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the conditions are met. The case was adjourned to October 19 for trial.
One surety must be a federal civil servant of at least Grade Level 14. Both sureties must live in the Federal Capital Territory, and one of them must reside in Asokoro, Maitama or Guzape. Each is required to depose to an affidavit of means and produce tax clearance certificates for the past two years. Nwogba and the sureties must also submit photocopies of their national identification slips. The court registrar is to verify the documents and report to the court and the prosecution before release.
The Inspector-General of Police is prosecuting Nwogba as the sole defendant in charge FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026. He was arraigned last Friday and remanded at Kuje pending the bail ruling. Police say he lives at No. 16, Emeka Egbe, by Roban Stores, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
In one count, Nwogba and others still at large are alleged to have impersonated JAMB registrar Prof. Segun Aina, registering a picture on WhatsApp and Truecaller against the number 08139433155 in order to obtain a financial advantage. The charge cites Section 22(3)(a)(b) and (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
According to the prosecution, Prof. Aina petitioned the Inspector-General after suspected gangs used his photograph and a telephone number without his authority. Investigators say the number was published on LinkedIn, with victims directed to WhatsApp. When police contacted the line, the person using Prof. Aina’s image claimed the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops for a digitisation programme, and sent the message: “Federal Ministry of Education Abuja has approved the supply of 200 units of HP laptops to us as a part of our digitization programs.”
Police allege the sender then introduced a “personal assistant,” Dr Stephen Igwe, on 07017626031, who was to arrange the supposed contract. Victims were asked to pay N900,000 as a “handshake,” and a further N3 million said to be for the permanent secretary and the Minister of Education. An Access Bank account, 1572799985, in the name of Edeh Chimezie Benedict, was provided, with an initial N900,000 requested to bribe staff at the minister’s office.
Investigators say Nwogba, who they allege operated under the name Dr Stephen Igwe, was arrested in Abakaliki. In what police described as a confession, he said the account belonged to a nephew who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31, and that he had passed the details to his cousin, Nnabuife Nwekpa of Onitsha, Anambra State. Police told the court that Nwekpa, whom they described as the person who posed as the JAMB registrar, is at large and that efforts to arrest him are continuing. The claims remain allegations.
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