By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu is set to arraign five suspects for allegedly hacking into the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s server during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations Computer-Based Test (UTME CBT).

The I-G had, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/300/2026, accused the defendants of allegations bordering on cybercrime, examination malpractices and cheating.

The I-G is the complainant in the charge dated and filed on May 22 by the Prosecution Counsel, Faith Dimka, before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The police boss named Ojiyovwi Miracle, Goodluck Ovuijeddo, Dennis Uvietesivwi, Ransome Monday and Hilda Ejohwemu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

In count one the suspects, who reside in Delta, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the offence bordering on unlawful access to a computer and computer related fraud.

In count two, they were alleged to have, “on April, without authorisation, intentionally accessed the JAMB server remotely by installing a software by name, RADMI software in over 200 systems used for UTME CBT.”

The police alleged that “after it was installed, the system was operated remotely on its own, for fraudulent purposes and obtain data that are vital to national security within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

In count three, the suspects were alleged to have knowingly and without authority on April 20, caused loss of property by altering, erasing, imputing and suppressing data for the purpose of conferring economic benefit to themselves against JAMB during the UTME CBT.

In count four, the suspects were alleged to have conspired among themselves “to commit offence to wit cheating at examination and aiding and abetting examination malpractice within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

They were also accused to have, on April 20, “by any fraudulent trick or device, by false pretence and with intent to cheat or secure undue advantage procure any question paper produced or intended to be used at JAMB during the UTME CBT.”

The suspects were alleged in count six to have, on April 20, conspired, aided, abetted, counseled, incited, procured and induced persons to commit examination malpractice during the UTME CBT.

While counts one, two and three are offences punishable under sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024); counts four, five and six are punishable under provisions of Examination Malpractice Act, 1999 (LFN 2004).

Although the suspects were scheduled for arraignment before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the hearing could not proceed.

When the case was called, the judge raised observation that since all the suspects reside in Delta, it would be better for the case to be heard at the court’s division in the state in order to ensure expeditious prosecution.

Counsel to the I-G, Faith Dimka, and lawyers to the suspects did not oppose the judge’s advice.

Justice Liman subsequently ordered that the case file should be returned to the central registry for onward transfer to Delta. (NAN)

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