The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Arinze Nwogba at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he impersonated the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Justice Salim Ibrahim made the order on Friday after Nwogba pleaded not guilty to six counts filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police.
The judge ordered that the defendant remain in custody pending his ruling on the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Christian Ejike.
Justice Ibrahim fixed October 7, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and October 19 for the commencement of trial.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, was filed by the Inspector-General of Police through the Force Legal Department.
The six-count charge, dated September 18 and filed on September 21 by police prosecutor Samuel Mallum, accused Nwogba of allegedly impersonating Aina and using his identity to facilitate fraudulent activities.
According to the charge, Nwogba, who resides at No. 16 Emeka Egbe, by Roban Stores, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and other suspects still at large, allegedly impersonated the JAMB registrar sometime in 2026.
The police alleged that Nwogba used a photograph of Aina as the profile picture on WhatsApp and Truecaller linked to telephone number 08139433155, allegedly with the intention of obtaining financial advantage.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 22(3)(a)(b) and (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
When the matter was called, police counsel Nonso Eleodimuo told the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment.
After the charge was read to him, Nwogba pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
Eleodimuo subsequently asked the court to fix a date for trial.
Nwogba’s lawyer, Ejike, did not oppose the request but informed the court that he had filed a bail application on September 23 and that the prosecution had been served.
The prosecution confirmed receipt of the application and said it had filed a counter-affidavit dated October 2.
After moving the bail application, Ejike urged the court to release his client on liberal terms.
However, Eleodimuo urged the court to dismiss the application.
In the counter-affidavit deposed to by Gregory Woje, a clerk with the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police alleged that several paragraphs in Nwogba’s affidavit were false and speculative.
Woje further argued that there was a likelihood that the defendant would evade justice if granted bail and might fail to appear for trial.
He urged the court, if it was minded to grant bail, to impose conditions that would ensure Nwogba’s attendance throughout the proceedings.
The police also told the court that the prosecution was ready for an expedited trial, saying its witnesses and exhibits were available.
The prosecution alleged that the investigation began after a petition was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by the JAMB registrar concerning suspected criminal gangs allegedly using Aina’s name and photographs without his knowledge or authorisation.
According to the police, the suspects used the identity of the JAMB registrar to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspects allegedly published the telephone number 08139433155 on LinkedIn and directed potential victims to contact them through WhatsApp.
The police said investigators subsequently engaged the suspected fraudsters through the advertised WhatsApp number.
According to the prosecution, the suspect using Aina’s photograph claimed to be the JAMB registrar and allegedly told a victim that he wanted to offer a contract after securing approval from the Minister of Education.
The police alleged that the suspect claimed the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme.
The alleged fraudster was also said to have provided the contact of a purported personal assistant, identified as Dr Stephen Igwe, who was allegedly expected to handle arrangements for the contract.
The police further alleged that the suspect requested ₦900,000 as an initial payment purportedly meant to facilitate the contract and subsequently demanded another ₦3 million allegedly for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The prosecution said an Access Bank account number, 1572799985, with the name Edeh Chimezie Benedict, was provided for the payment.
According to the police, the suspect described the initial ₦900,000 as money allegedly needed to bribe officials at the ministry.
Nwogba, whom the police identified as allegedly operating under the name Dr Stephen Igwe, was subsequently arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The prosecution alleged that during interrogation, Nwogba claimed that the bank account belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31.
He allegedly admitted forwarding the account details to his cousin, identified as Nnabuiife Nwekpa of Onitsha, Anambra State, to use for the alleged fraudulent activities.
The police said Nwekpa, whom they identified as the alleged impersonator using Aina’s identity, remained at large.
The prosecution said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.
