The Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Center has arrested three suspects 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.
This was disclosed on Thursday, 13th June 2024 during a press briefing by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja
He said that the arrest came after a prior press conference held by the Nigeria Police and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, during which the public was reassured of the two organisations’ resolve to mobilise all resources to apprehend those suspected of forging fake JAMB admission letters and spreading fraudulent websites to trick unsuspecting applicants.
The Force Spokesperson further said that the suspects, namely, Effa Leonard Mpama, Ibang Ernest Jerome and Eshiet Odotukana Benson, all male of ages 34, 38 and 38 respectively and others at large, belong to a syndicate who intentionally and knowingly conspired and procured amongst themselves services that enabled them to illegally access JAMB restricted Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and e-facility respectively, and proceeded to alter and delete other candidates’ previous admission letters and inputted fake details resulting in inauthentic admission letter which were acted upon as genuine to secure admissions into tertiary institutions and mobilization for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, thus compromising the entire JAMB admission process with its attendant consequences.
“Upon arrest the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming pieces of evidence. The duo of Effa Leonard Mpama and Ibang Ernest Jerome and others at large collect personal details of the prospective candidates and forward same to Mr Eshiet Odotukana Benson who gets CAPS links from Daniel and Chris; Messrs. Daniel and Chris still at large are working in the JAMB Computer Based Test (CBT) Centers domiciled in FAN and UNICAL respectively in Calabar, Cross River State, Adejobi said.
He said further, “In more developments, digital Forensic analysis led to the recovery of 4 fake domains, websites and 2 principal threat actors of a syndicate in Imọ State behind the creation of the fake domains and other associated websites operated by them. Similarly, the third suspect, Mr Eshiet, who has access to the CAPS links unlike the duo above, proceeds to any CBT centre and opens the jamb e-facility with a login detail of a candidate with previous admission and thereafter superimposes the new details collected to create a fake admission letter.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun praised the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre under the leadership of CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, while strongly cautioning against any kind of criminal partnerships that encourage illegal activities of this kind and others engaging in similar activities.
He further reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to utilising emerging technological advancements to protect Nigerian citizens in both physical and digital spaces.
