The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has re-arrested a suspect, Emmanuel Akataka, for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice schemes targeting candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, expressed concern over the suspect's repeated offences despite being granted bail. Akataka had earlier been arrested for various crimes including conspiracy, impersonation, identity theft, and online fraud.
According to investigations, the suspect initially operated under the pseudonym "Official Frederick" and used a WhatsApp platform to lure candidates with false promises of score enhancement. He deceived at least 94 candidates into paying for a non-existent service claiming to improve their examination scores. The affected candidates were given the opportunity to defend themselves before a special committee, and their UTME registrations were subsequently cancelled with the approval of the Minister of Education.
Akataka was granted bail but returned to fraudulent activities shortly after his release. He allegedly demanded ₦70,000 from each candidate, claiming he could prevent the cancellation of their registrations. The suspect reportedly told victims he had "contacts within the Board" to lend credibility to the scheme.
Oloyede warned that claims of score upgrades or special assistance in examinations are fraudulent and illegal. He expressed concern that some candidates who were previously defrauded still fell victim again, describing it as a worrying trend. The registrar reaffirmed the board's commitment to tackling examination malpractice in collaboration with security agencies.
The re-arrest of Emmanuel Akataka is a welcome development in the fight against examination malpractice. The JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, has been consistent in his efforts to protect the integrity of Nigeria's examination system. The fact that some candidates who were previously defrauded still fell victim again is a worrying trend that highlights the need for increased vigilance and awareness among students. The board's commitment to tackling examination malpractice is commendable, and we urge them to continue working with security agencies to bring perpetrators to justice. With the average cost of UTME registration being around ₦3,500, the ₦70,000 demanded by Akataka is a significant amount that could have been used for other purposes.
