The police recovered a dead man's ATM card, his SIM card and his burial poster from a 32-year-old suspect accused of impersonating the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and defrauding victims of up to ₦3 million.
Nwogba Arinze was arrested on August 27, 2026, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, following a petition from the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina. The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, online impersonation, identity theft and fraud, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The police said Arinze and his accomplices created accounts using the name, photograph and official position of the JAMB Registrar on WhatsApp, Truecaller and LinkedIn without authorisation. They used the fake identity to approach members of the public with promises of securing government and JAMB-related contracts.
Some victims were allegedly asked to pay between ₦900,000 and ₦3 million as processing fees and purported payments to influence officials. The police did not disclose how many people fell for the scheme.
The investigation was carried out by the Police Intelligence, Operations and Investigation Unit after approval was given for the probe. It covered the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Anambra and Ebonyi states before the suspect was arrested.
During the investigation, police recovered an Access Bank ATM card belonging to Edeh Chimezie Benedict, a deceased person, which they alleged was used to receive proceeds from the fraudulent activities. An Airtel SIM card registered in the deceased's name and his burial poster were also reportedly recovered from the suspect.
Another suspect, Nnabuife Nwekpa from Onitsha, Anambra State, was described by police as a principal suspect in the alleged operation. He remains at large.
The Force warned Nigerians against responding to messages from individuals claiming to represent the JAMB Registrar or other government officials through WhatsApp or social media platforms.
"The JAMB Registrar does not award contracts or request payments through WhatsApp or any social media platform," the police said, urging members of the public to verify suspicious requests through official channels.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court after the completion of administrative procedures. Investigations into other members of the alleged syndicate continue.
The case adds to a pattern of fraudsters exploiting the names of public officials for financial gain. In recent years, several state institutions have issued public notices disavowing unofficial online accounts opened in the names of their leaders. JAMB itself has previously warned candidates and the public about scammers posing as board officials on social media, though the board has not publicly commented on this specific arrest beyond the police statement.
The recovered items, particularly the ATM card and SIM card of the deceased, point to a network that sourced identities from both the living and the dead to launder the proceeds of fraud. Police have not said how Arinze obtained the deceased man's documents.
The arrest in Abakaliki followed weeks of tracing across four states, according to the police. The investigation unit that handled the case operates under the office of the Inspector-General of Police and typically handles high-profile fraud and cybercrime cases.
Arinze's arraignment will take place once administrative procedures are completed, the police said. No date has been announced.
According to Pulse.ng.
