The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has re-arrested a suspected member of an examination fraud syndicate who allegedly scammed over 131 candidates through an online scheme.
The suspect, Emmanuel Akataka, was apprehended again after previously being arrested and released by the board. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, March 26, at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja, he admitted returning to the illegal activity despite earlier promising to support efforts to curb examination malpractice.
Akataka confessed to making more than ₦1.5 million from the scheme. However, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disputed this claim, stating that the suspect actually made over ₦8 million by deceiving UTME candidates with false promises of boosting their scores.
“I am ashamed of everything I did. All I am asking for is one last chance. I will never go back to this again,” the suspect said.
The Delta State native blamed his actions on financial hardship and family pressures, including his mother’s illness and the loss of his father in 2025. He admitted that desperation pushed him back into fraud shortly after regaining his freedom.
Investigations revealed that he operated under multiple aliases and managed a fake online platform called “Example Master Educational Platform,” where he lured candidates with promises of JAMB “assistance.”
According to him, at least 131 candidates fell victim to the scam this year alone, paying between ₦5,000 and ₦8,000 each.
He also admitted to using artificial intelligence tools to make his scheme appear legitimate.
“I used AI to create convincing posts and images,” he said, adding that he relied on apps like Gemini to enhance the credibility of his fraudulent content.
Akataka further explained that he targeted desperate candidates, especially those aiming for competitive courses like nursing, many of whom reached out to him directly for help in securing high scores.
JAMB’s Director of Special Duties, Zainab Hamza, who spoke on behalf of the Registrar, condemned the act and stressed that there is no excuse for such behavior.
She questioned why he returned to crime despite previous arrest and warnings, while reaffirming the board’s commitment to identifying and dismantling fraud networks.
Although the suspect denied having insiders within JAMB, he admitted using social media platforms and messaging groups to reach victims. He also confessed to operating multiple bank accounts, some under false identities, to receive payments.
JAMB reiterated its warning to candidates, urging them to stay vigilant and avoid falling for fraudulent schemes.
The board emphasized that there is no shortcut to success in its examinations, stressing that only hard work and due process can guarantee genuine results.
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