Court Grants Alleged Fake JAMB Registrar N50m Bail, Sets Strict Conditions

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted N50 million bail to Arinze Nwogba, who is facing trial for allegedly impersonating the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina.

Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling on Thursday, admitted Nwogba to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge held that the alleged offence was bailable and not a capital offence, while noting that Nwogba had indicated through his bail application that he would not abscond and would make himself available for trial.

The court, however, attached stringent conditions to the bail.

One of the sureties must be a Federal Government civil servant not below Grade Level 14, while both sureties must reside within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The judge further directed that one of the sureties must reside in Asokoro, Maitama or Guzape.

Each surety is required to swear an affidavit of means and submit a tax clearance certificate covering the previous two years.

The court also ordered Nwogba and the sureties to submit photocopies of their National Identification slips.

The court registrar was directed to verify the bail documents and issue a report, with the prosecution also required to participate in the verification process.

Importantly, the ruling does not mean Nwogba walks out of custody immediately. He is to remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are perfected.

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The case has been adjourned until October 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.

Nwogba is being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police on a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026.

The police allege that he impersonated Professor Aina by using the JAMB registrar’s photograph on WhatsApp and Truecaller, allegedly with the intention of obtaining financial advantage.

According to the prosecution, a petition was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police over a suspected criminal operation involving the unauthorised use of the registrar’s name, photograph and telephone number to deceive members of the public.

The police alleged that the suspects also used LinkedIn and WhatsApp to approach prospective victims with purported government contracts.

In one alleged scheme, the impersonators reportedly claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme.

The prosecution alleged that prospective beneficiaries were subsequently asked to make payments, including N900,000 described as an initial “handshake” and another N3 million purportedly for officials of the ministry.

The police said Nwogba was arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during investigations into the alleged impersonation.

The prosecution further alleged that Nwogba used the operational name Dr Stephen Igwe and admitted forwarding bank account details to a relative allegedly connected with the fraudulent operation.

Another alleged member of the operation, identified by the police as Nnabuife Nwekpa, is said to be at large.

Nwogba pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge and remains presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves the allegations against him in court.

The bail ruling therefore allows him an opportunity to secure his release pending trial, but only after satisfying the conditions imposed by the court.

Court Grants Alleged Fake JAMB Registrar N50m Bail, Sets Strict Conditions

NESREA to Honour Lagos Baale After Dramatic Rescue of Endangered Sea Turtle

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is set to honour the Baale of Okun Igando in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Chief Semiu Waliu Jejelaiye, after he intervened to save a large sea turtle from being killed by fishermen.

The development followed the rescue of the marine animal after it became entangled in a fishing net along the coastline of the community.

The fishermen reportedly initially believed they had caught a large fish. However, the situation changed after the Baale intervened and stopped attempts to kill or sell the animal.

Chief Jejelaiye urged the fishermen and other residents to release the turtle, while explaining the importance of protecting endangered and threatened marine species.

The fishermen, with the assistance of other community members, carefully freed the animal from the net and returned it alive to the Atlantic Ocean.

The rescue attracted widespread attention after footage of the incident circulated online, with many Nigerians commending the community for choosing to protect the animal rather than kill it.

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NESREA has subsequently commended the Baale and the local fishing community for their intervention, describing the rescue as an example of grassroots environmental conservation.

The agency is expected to issue a Letter of Commendation to Chief Jejelaiye in recognition of his role in preventing harm to the marine animal and promoting wildlife protection within the community.

The incident has also renewed attention to the challenges facing sea turtles in Nigeria, particularly along the Lagos coastline.

Sea turtles are exposed to several threats, including accidental capture in fishing nets, destruction of nesting habitats, pollution, illegal hunting and human consumption.

Conservation efforts in the Ibeju-Lekki area have previously focused on educating fishing communities about the importance of protecting sea turtles and finding ways to reduce conflicts between conservation and fishing activities.

The latest rescue also highlights the role that traditional rulers and coastal communities can play in protecting endangered wildlife.

NESREA, which is responsible for enforcing Nigeria’s environmental laws and regulations, has continued to advocate stronger community participation in biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

The rescued turtle was identified in reports as a leatherback sea turtle, one of the largest living turtle species. Leatherback turtles face serious threats globally from fishing gear, habitat loss, pollution and other human activities.

The successful release of the turtle back into the ocean has been described as a positive example of what can happen when local communities respond quickly to protect threatened wildlife.

The development is also expected to strengthen calls for greater awareness among fishermen and residents of Nigeria’s coastal communities on how to safely handle marine animals accidentally caught in fishing nets.

For Okun Igando, the intervention by the Baale has turned what could have been the death of a rare marine animal into a notable wildlife conservation success story.

NESREA to Honour Lagos Baale After Dramatic Rescue of Endangered Sea Turtle

How Six Members of a Family Were Murdered in Oyo

Six members of a family, including four children, were allegedly killed during an attack on their home at Oloba Village in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, with police subsequently arresting three suspects over the gruesome incident.

The victims were identified as Ifeanyi Chukwu, his wife and their four children. The attack reportedly occurred on September 22, 2026, at about 7pm.

According to the Oyo State Police Command, the suspects — Hammed Akinbami, Akinbami Ojo and Padonu Edward — allegedly invaded the family’s residence armed with a locally made Dane gun, two cutlasses and a wooden club.

Police alleged that the attackers also robbed the family of ₦200,000, a Boxer motorcycle, a Doma machine fitted with a chainsaw and a spraying machine before carrying out the killings.

The command said Hammed allegedly shot the father, while Ojo and Edward allegedly attacked the woman with a club.

Two of the children were allegedly tied by their hands and legs and thrown into a nearby river. Police said the other members of the family were also killed and their bodies disposed of in the river.

The case came to the attention of the police after intelligence was received on October 2, leading detectives to launch an investigation and trace the suspects.

Police said the suspects were subsequently arrested and that investigations led officers to the scene, where they recovered several exhibits allegedly connected to the crime.

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Among the items recovered were the family’s Boxer motorcycle, a locally made gun, two cutlasses and the wooden club allegedly used during the attack.

The police said the suspects confessed during interrogation to their alleged involvement in the crime, although accounts given by the suspects reportedly differed over what led to the attack.

Hammed allegedly told investigators that the incident was connected to a dispute involving a damaged mobile phone, claiming that the disagreement had remained unresolved despite intervention by community elders.

Another suspect, Padonu, reportedly claimed that Hammed told them they were going to the family’s home to collect money. He admitted hitting the woman but disputed some aspects of Hammed’s account.

Ojo also reportedly claimed that he initially believed they were going to recover money allegedly owed to Hammed. He said he later became aware of the alleged plan to kill members of the family and claimed he was threatened if he refused to participate.

The remains of the woman have been recovered, according to the police, while efforts are continuing to recover the remains of the other victims from the river for autopsy and eventual burial.

The suspects and case file are expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, for further investigation and prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has ordered a thorough investigation and directed that anyone found culpable be brought to justice.

The suspects have not been convicted of the alleged offences. They remain presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent court.

How Six Members of a Family Were Murdered in Oyo