Federal High Court Grants N50m Bail to Arinze Nwogba in JAMB Impersonation Case
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Mr Arinze Nwogba bail in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties in like sum, over his alleged impersonation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling on Thursday, held that the offence with which Nwogba was charged was bailable, noting that it was not a capital offence punishable by death.
The judge said Nwogba, in his affidavit, had indicated that he would not jump bail and would make himself available for trial, describing this as the hallmark of a bail application.
“From the affidavit of the defendant/applicant, he has alluded to the fact that he will not jump bail and he will present himself for trial which is the hallmark in bail application,” Justice Ibrahim said.
The judge, who noted that the granting of bail was within the discretionary powers of the court, admitted Nwogba to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 14 in the Federal Civil Service.
Justice Ibrahim further directed that both sureties must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with one of them residing in either Asokoro, Maitama or Guzape.
The court also ordered each surety to depose to an affidavit of means and submit a tax clearance certificate covering the past two years.
Nwogba and the sureties were equally directed to submit photocopies of their National Identification slips.
The judge ordered the registrar of the court to verify the bail documents, issue and sign a report, with the prosecution also required to carry out the necessary verification.
Justice Ibrahim, however, ordered that Nwogba remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The court adjourned the matter until October 19 for the commencement of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector-General of Police is prosecuting Nwogba over allegations that he impersonated Prof. Segun Aina, the JAMB Registrar.
Nwogba is the sole defendant in the six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, filed by the police.
He was arraigned on Friday and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application filed through his lawyer.
In one of the counts, the prosecution alleged that Nwogba, who resides at No. 16, Emeka Egbe, by Roban Stores, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and other persons still at large, fraudulently impersonated the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Aina.
The prosecution alleged that Nwogba used Prof. Aina’s photograph as his profile picture on WhatsApp and Truecaller, linked to telephone number 08139433155, with the intention of gaining financial advantage.
The offence is said to contravene and be punishable under Section 22(3)(a)(b) and (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
According to the prosecution’s brief facts of the case, the JAMB registrar had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the activities of suspected criminal gangs allegedly using his telephone number and photographs without his knowledge or authority.
The police alleged that the suspects used the registrar’s identity to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
The prosecution said the suspects also published the telephone number on LinkedIn, directing members of the public to contact them through WhatsApp.
“The investigating team decided to engage the fraudsters directly using the WhatsApp number he advertised on LinkedIn,” the prosecution told the court.
According to the police, the suspects had used the JAMB registrar’s image as profile pictures on WhatsApp and Truecaller to deceive members of the public.
The prosecution alleged that the fraudsters told victims that the purported JAMB registrar wanted to offer them a contract and had obtained the necessary approvals from the Minister of Education.
In one of the WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by the impersonator, he stated: “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 prosecution further alleged that the purported registrar provided the contact details of a personal assistant, identified as Dr Stephen Igwe, using telephone number 07017626031, who would allegedly handle arrangements for the contract.
The suspect allegedly directed that the personal assistant would provide an account number into which N900,000 would be paid as “handshake” money.
He also allegedly demanded another N3 million for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The prosecution said an Access Bank account number, 1572799985, bearing the name Edeh Chimezie Benedict, was also provided.
It alleged that the suspect requested an initial payment of N900,000 to bribe staff members at the minister’s office.
Nwogba, who allegedly operated under the name Dr Stephen Igwe, was subsequently arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to the police, he confessed that the bank account details belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried on July 31.
The prosecution further alleged that Nwogba admitted forwarding the account details to his cousin, identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa ‘M’ of Onitsha, Anambra State, for use in the alleged fraudulent activities.
The police said Nnabuife Nwekpa, who was allegedly operating as the fake JAMB registrar, remained at large.
“Serious efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect,” the police told the court.
