JAMB Re-Arrests Repeat Offender in ₦8 Million UTME Scam

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has re-arrested Emmanuel Akataka, a repeat offender accused of operating a sophisticated online syndicate that defrauded at least 131 candidates.

Despite a previous arrest and a pledge to assist the board in fighting examination malpractice, Akataka admitted to resuming his illegal activities shortly after his release.

During a press briefing at JAMB headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the suspect confessed to running the “Example Master Educational Platform,” where he promised to inflate the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores of unsuspecting students.

Akataka revealed that he utilized artificial intelligence, specifically the Gemini application, to generate convincing digital posts and images that gave his fraudulent operations an air of legitimacy.

He targeted vulnerable candidates seeking high marks for competitive programs like nursing, charging individual fees ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 Naira.

While the suspect claimed his total earnings from the scheme amounted to 1.5 million Naira, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede contradicted this figure, stating that investigation records show he defrauded candidates of more than 8 million Naira using various bank accounts and false identities.

The suspect, a native of Delta State, cited extreme poverty and the death of his father in 2025 as the primary drivers for his return to crime. However, JAMB officials, led by Director of Special Duties Zainab Hamza, dismissed these justifications, emphasizing that the board remains vigilant against such scams. JAMB has once again warned the public that there is no legitimate way to alter examination results or secure success outside of hard work and official protocols.