The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Arinze Nwogba in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his bail application after he pleaded not guilty to six charges arising from the alleged impersonation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Segun Aina.
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Justice Salim Ibrahim made the remand order on Friday, October 2, 2026, after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence on whether Nwogba should be granted bail.
The judge fixed October 7 at noon for his ruling on the bail application and adjourned the case until October 19 for the commencement of trial.
The Inspector-General of Police brought the six-count charge against Nwogba, the sole defendant, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026. The charge was dated September 18 and filed on September 21 by Samuel Mallum.
In one of the counts, the police alleged that Nwogba, an Abakaliki resident, and others currently at large fraudulently impersonated the JAMB registrar in 2026 to obtain financial benefits.
The alleged scheme involved using Aina’s photograph and identity on a WhatsApp profile and Truecaller account linked to a telephone number. The prosecution said the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3)(a), (b) and (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
When the case was called, prosecution counsel Nonso Eleodimuo informed the court that it was scheduled for arraignment. Defence counsel Christian Ejike raised no objection, and Nwogba pleaded not guilty to all six counts after the charges were read to him.
Eleodimuo subsequently requested a trial date. Ejike did not oppose the request but informed the court that the defence had filed a bail application on September 23, which had been served on the prosecution.
The prosecution acknowledged receiving the application and said its counter-affidavit, dated October 2, had also been filed and served.
Moving the application, Ejike urged the court to grant Nwogba bail on liberal terms. Eleodimuo opposed the request and asked the court to dismiss it.
In the counter-affidavit, Gregory Woje, a clerk at the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, challenged several claims in the defendant’s supporting affidavit, describing them as false, speculative or unrelated to the case.
Woje alleged that Nwogba might evade justice if released and fail to attend his trial. He urged the court, should it decide to grant bail, to impose conditions that would secure the defendant’s attendance.
“That assuming the court is minded to grant bail, it is for the court to do so considering the punishment upon conviction and upon terms that will ensure the defendant/applicant attend his trial,” he stated.
Woje maintained that bail conditions were for the court to determine. He also said the prosecution was ready “to prosecute the case expeditiously as all the exhibits and witnesses are ready for the trial.”
The prosecution’s account of the alleged scheme began with a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by the JAMB registrar. The petition concerned individuals allegedly using Aina’s name and photographs without his knowledge or permission to deceive members of the public.
According to the police, the suspects also published a telephone number on LinkedIn and directed prospective contacts to communicate with them exclusively through WhatsApp.
“The investigating team decided to engage the fraudsters directly using the WhatsApp number he advertised on LinkedIn,” the prosecution stated.
Investigators alleged that the person posing as the registrar offered a laptop supply contract and claimed that the necessary approvals had been obtained from the Minister of Education.
According to the prosecution document, one WhatsApp message read: “Federal Ministry of Education Abuja has approved the supply of 200 units of HP laptops to us as a part of our digitization programs.”
The person allegedly posing as Aina then supplied the contact of a supposed personal assistant, identified as “Dr Stephen Igwe,” who would arrange the contract award.
Police alleged that the purported assistant was to provide an account into which ₦900,000 would be paid for a “handshake.” They further alleged that another ₦3 million was requested, purportedly for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The prosecution said an Access Bank account bearing the name Edeh Chimezie Benedict was supplied, with the initial ₦900,000 allegedly intended to bribe staff at the minister’s office. These claims form part of the alleged deception; they do not establish that any government official authorised the demands or received money.
Police alleged that Nwogba operated under the name “Dr Stephen Igwe” and was subsequently arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to the prosecution, he allegedly told investigators that the account belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31. Police further alleged that he admitted forwarding the account details to his cousin, Nnabuife Nwekpa, of Onitsha, Anambra State, for use in the scheme.
The prosecution identified Nwekpa as the person allegedly posing as the JAMB registrar and said he remained at large.
“Serious efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect,” the police stated.
Nwogba has denied the charges, and the allegations remain subject to proof at trial.
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