The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of ₦50 million to Arinze Nwogba, who is facing charges over alleged impersonation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina.
Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the bail on Thursday, with two sureties required to provide the same amount.
The judge held that the alleged offences were bailable, noting that they were not capital offences punishable by death, The News Edition reports.
Justice Ibrahim said the court had discretion to grant bail and noted Nwogba’s undertaking to appear for trial.
One of the sureties must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 14 in the federal civil service. Both sureties must reside within the Federal Capital Territory, with one required to live in Asokoro, Maitama or Guzape.
The court also ordered the sureties to submit affidavits of means and tax clearance certificates covering the previous two years.
Nwogba and the sureties were directed to provide photocopies of their National Identification slips, while the court registrar was ordered to verify the bail documents and submit a report.
Nwogba will remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The court adjourned the case until October 19 for the commencement of trial.
What Nwogba Is Accused Of
The Inspector-General of Police is prosecuting Nwogba in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026.
The police allege that Nwogba and others still at large impersonated JAMB Registrar Prof. Segun Aina by using his photographs on WhatsApp and Truecaller in an alleged attempt to obtain money from members of the public.
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraudsters also used LinkedIn to publish a telephone number and directed potential victims to communicate with them through WhatsApp.
The police said investigators contacted the operators of the number during their investigation.
The prosecution alleged that the suspects claimed to represent the JAMB registrar and told potential victims that the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme.
The alleged fraudsters reportedly demanded ₦900,000 as an initial payment, as well as an additional ₦3 million allegedly intended for officials at the Ministry of Education.
The prosecution further alleged that an Access Bank account was provided for the payment.
Arrest and Investigation
Nwogba was subsequently arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, according to the police.
The prosecution told the court that Nwogba, who allegedly operated under the name Dr Stephen Igwe, admitted during questioning that the account details used in the alleged scheme belonged to his late nephew.
The police further alleged that he admitted forwarding the account details to a cousin identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa of Onitsha, Anambra State, whom investigators described as being at large.
The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Nwogba remains in custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions, while the trial is scheduled to begin on October 19.
NAN