JAMB Rearrests Fraudster for Defrauding UTME Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rearrested Emmanuel Prais Akataka for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that defrauded candidates seeking high scores in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Akataka was previously apprehended for his role in a criminal conspiracy involving impersonation and online fraud targeting UTME candidates.

He created a WhatsApp platform to advertise false services promising inflated scores, deceiving at least 94 candidates who solicited his illegal services for a fee of 70,000 naira. Following his initial arrest, Akataka was granted bail but continued to contact previous victims, adopting aliases and demanding payments.

Investigations revealed that he used a bank account under the name Vincent Okpowho to collect payments. JAMB emphasized the importance of integrity in the examination process and warned candidates against engaging with fraudulent schemes, which violate the law and can lead to financial loss and legal consequences.