The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced on Thursday that it has arrested three suspects involved in a fake Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) website and admission letters scandal.
The suspects, identified as Messrs. Effa Leonard Mpama, 34; Ibang Ernest Jerome, 38; and Eshiet Odotukana Benson, 38, are part of a larger syndicate that intentionally and knowingly conspired to illegally access JAMB's restricted Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and e-facility.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the suspects altered and deleted other candidates' previous admission letters and inputted fake details, resulting in inauthentic admission letters that were acted upon as genuine to secure admissions into tertiary institutions and mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. This compromised the entire JAMB admission process and its attendant consequences.
The NPF-NCCC arrested the suspects following a previous press briefing by the Nigeria Police Force and JAMB, where they assured the public of their resolve to put all hands on deck to decimate the menace of forgery, system interference, and phishing websites used to defraud unsuspecting JAMB candidates.
The arrests were made in connection with the case of Conspiracy, Computer Related Forgery, and System Interference contrary to sections 8, 13, and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 as amended.
Upon arrest, the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming evidence.
Digital forensic analysis led to the recovery of 4 fake domains, websites, and 2 principal threat actors of a syndicate in Imo State behind the creation of the fake domains and other associated websites operated by them.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, commended the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center led by CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry and reiterated the commitment of the Force to leverage on emerging technological advancements to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and on the digital space.
The NPF strongly warned against all sorts of criminal partnerships that promote the illegal activities of this nature and others engaging in similar activities.
The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation, emphasizing the Force's commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring national security.
