Inspector-General (I-G) of Police on Tuesday amended charge against two suspected impersonators of Prof. Segun Aina, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and were re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuia.
The two defendants; Arinze Nwogba and Sunday Nweke, were re-arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim on a seven-count amended charge bordering on impersonation, fraud, cybercrime, among others.
The defendsnts, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had, on Oct. 2, arraigned Nwogba on a six-count charge on allegations that he and others now at large committed the impersonation and other criminal offences.
Nwogba, who was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded guilty, was admitted to a N50 million bail with two sureties on Oct. 7.
The judge had adjourned the case until Oct. 19 for commencement of his trial.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, the prosecution lawyer told the court that the I-G had filed an amended charge after the arrest of Nweke, who is Nwogba’s accomplice.
And Justice Ibrahim fixed today for the defendants’s arraignment.
When the case was called on Tuesday, counsel for the police, Stanley Medugu, prayed the court for the amended charge to be read to the defendants so they could take their plea.
Ifeanyi Nworie, who appeared for the defence, did not object.
He, however, informed the court that Nweke would need an Igbo interpreter because he did not understand English.
After an interpreter was provided, the seven counts were read to the defendants in which they pleaded not guilty to.
In the light of the plea of the defendants, Medugu sought a trial date to establish their case against the suspects.
Although Nworie did not oppose the application, the lawyer said he had gone through the charge and saw that it was almost the same with the earlier charge filed against Nwogba.
He, therefore, prayed the court to permit Nwogba to continue to enjoy the earlier bail conditiions.
The lawyer also said that Nweke’s bail application would be filed as soon as it was prepared.
The prosecuting lawyer did not oppose Nworie’s application and Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until Nov. 25 for trial.
The judge, who ordered Nwogba to continue with the earlier bail terms, ordered Nweke to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
NAN observes that the amended charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026, was dated and filed on Oct. 16 by N.D. Eleodimuo.
In count one, Nwogba of No. 16 Emeka Egbe by Roban Stores, Nweke of Nkpor Junction, both in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, and others now at large, were alleged to have, sometime in the year 2026, conspired among themselves to commit felony.
They were accused of impersonation, identity theft, unlawful access to a computer and computer related fraud.
In count six, the defendants and others now at large, were alleged to have, sometime in the year 2026, fraudulently impersonated JAMB Registrar, Prof. Aina by registration of his picture on Whatsapp profile and true caller on telephone numbers: 08139433155, 07012207086, 0803805760, 08166945090, 09029228587, 0903937453, 08166945090 and 09053439374.
They were accused to have committed the crime with the intent to gain financial advantage to themselves contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3)(a)(b) & (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended) 2024.
Count seven accused Nweke and others now at large of fraudulently impersonating the Personal Assistant to the JAMB registrar with the intent to gain financial advantage to themselves by using account numbers: 3237208748 and 0870096728 domiciled with First Bank and EcoBank respectively.
The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3)(a) & (4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended), 2024.
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