A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded a man accused of posing as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Segun Aina, over an alleged attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public through a fictitious government contract.
The defendant, Arinze Nwogba, was ordered to remain in Kuje Prison after he pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge filed by the police.
Justice Salim Ibrahim gave the order on Friday while hearing the defendant’s bail application.
The court fixed October 7 to rule on the bail application, while October 19 was set for the commencement of trial.
The prosecution alleged that Nwogba and other suspects at large used Aina’s name and photographs on WhatsApp, Truecaller and LinkedIn to create the impression that they were dealing with the JAMB Registrar.
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraudsters offered a purported contract to supply 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme allegedly approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Investigators told the court that the suspect allegedly demanded ₦900,000 as an initial payment, describing it as money for a “handshake” with officials.
He was also accused of requesting another ₦3 million allegedly meant for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education.
The prosecution said an Access Bank account belonging to Edeh Chimezie Benedict was allegedly provided for the payments.
Nwogba was subsequently arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, following a petition reportedly submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by Aina over the alleged impersonation.
The prosecution further alleged that Nwogba claimed the bank account belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026, and said he had forwarded the account details to his cousin, Nnabuiife Nwekpa, allegedly involved in the scheme.
Nwekpa, according to the prosecution, remains at large.
The police opposed bail, arguing that the defendant might abscond or interfere with witnesses if released.
Nwogba has denied the allegations by pleading not guilty, and the charges remain to be tested at trial.