From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered an AI-driven fraud scheme targeting Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates, leading to the arrest of its mastermind, Emmanuel Akataka, who defrauded no fewer than 131 unsuspecting candidates.
The suspect, who was re-arrested by JAMB officials, confessed on Thursday at the Board’s headquarters in Abuja to orchestrating the elaborate online scam despite an earlier arrest and commitment to desist from such activities.
Akataka admitted to operating a deceptive online platform, “Example Master Educational Platform,” where he promised candidates assistance in boosting their UTME scores.
According to investigations, victims paid between N5,000 and N8,000 for the fraudulent service, believing it would guarantee higher marks, especially for competitive courses such as nursing.
Expressing remorse, the 26-year-old Delta State indigene said poverty and family pressures, including the illness of his mother and the loss of his father in 2025, pushed him back into crime shortly after his initial release.
“I am ashamed of everything I did. All I am asking for is one last chance. I will never go back to this act again”, he said.
While the suspect claimed he made about N1.5 million from the operation, the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that the total proceeds from the scam exceeded N8 million, highlighting the scale and impact of the fraudulent scheme.
Further revelations showed that Akataka deployed artificial intelligence tools, including Google Gemini, to create convincing promotional content and fake testimonials that lent credibility to his operations. He also leveraged social media platforms and messaging apps to attract and communicate with victims.
JAMB’s Director of Special Duties, Zainab Hamza, who addressed journalists on behalf of the Registrar, condemned the act and reiterated the Board’s zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice. She noted that the suspect acted alone without any insider collaboration within JAMB, but used multiple bank accounts, some under false identities, to receive payments.
Hamza emphasised that the Board remains vigilant and committed to dismantling fraud networks that prey on candidates’ desperation, warning that perpetrators would continue to face the full weight of the law.
The Board urged prospective candidates to shun fraudulent platforms and rely solely on legitimate channels, stressing that success in the UTME can only be achieved through hard work and adherence to due process.
JAMB reassured the public of its continued commitment to ensuring fairness, credibility, and trust in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
