The long arm of the law has caught up with a man who allegedly impersonated Prof. Segun Aina, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a short ruling, held that Nwogba would be in custody pending the ruling on his bail application which was moved by his lawyer, Christian Ejike.
Justice Ibrahim then fixed Oct. 7 at noon for a ruling on the application and adjourned the matter until Oct. 19 for commencement of his trial.
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, sued Nwogba as sole defendant.
The I-G, in the charge dated Sept. 18 and filed Sept. 21 by Samuel Mallum, preferred six counts against the defendant.
In one of the counts, Nwogba, who resides at No. 16, Emeka Egbe by Roban Stores, Abakaliki in Ebonyi, and others now at large, were alleged to have, sometime in the year 2026, fraudulently impersonated the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Aina.
The defendant was alleged to have registered his picture on WhatsApp profile and Truecaller on telephone number: 08139433155 with the intent to gain financial advantage for himself.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3)(a)(b) & (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 Amended 2024.
When the case was called, the police lawyer, Nonso Eleodimuo, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for Nwogba’s arraignment.
The defence lawyer did not oppose the application.
After the charge was read to him, Nwogba pleaded not guilty to all six counts and the prosecuting counsel sought a trial date.
Responding, Ejike did not raise objection to Eleodimuo’s application for a date for trial but he told the court that he had a motion for bail filed on Sept. 23.
The lawyer said the prosecution had been served and responded to their application for bail.
Eleodimuo, who acknowledged the receipt of the bail application, said a counter affidavit, dated Oct. 2, had also been filed and served on the defence.
After moving the application, Ejike prayed the court to admit Nwogba to bail on liberal terms.
The Prosecution Counsel in his response, urged the court to dismiss Nwogba’s application for bail.
In a counter affidavit deposed to by Gregory Woje, a clerk at the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters in Abuja, stated that majority of the paragraphs in Nwogba’s affidavit in support of his bail application were false.
Woje averred that the defendant’s affidavit was speculative and were facts within the knowledge of the defendant, which are extraneous to the case.
The officer told the court that if granted bail, there was likelihood of Nwogba evading justice.
He added that the defendant would not appear in court to stand trial for the case against him.
“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 said.
Woje stated that bail conditions are at the discretion of the court and not for the defendant to decide.
The officer said the I-G was ready “to prosecute the case expeditiously as all the exhibits and witnesses are ready for the trial.”
“That if the defendant/applicant is granted bail and abscond from trial, it will be a clog on the whole proceedings before this court.
“That the complainant/redpondent will be prejudiced if the application of the applicant is granted,” he said.
Justice Ibrahim after listening to the parties’ arguments, adjourned until Oct. 7 for ruling on the bail and fixed Oct. 19 for trial.
The prosecution, in the brief facts of the case, said a petition was written and submitted to the I-G by the board registrar concerning the activities of some suspected criminal gangs who fraudulently registered and are using the telephone number 08139433155 and using the name and pictures of Prof. Aina without his knowledge and authority.
The police alleged that these individuals were using the identity of the JAMB registrar to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
It said they equally went on LinkedIn and published the said number where they directed unsuspecting innocent citizens to contact them only through WhatsApp using the number.
“The investigating team decided to engage the fraudsters directly using the WhatsApp number he advertised on LinkedIn.
