Three arrested for operating fake UTME centre

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested three persons for allegedly operating a fake Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registration centre. The suspects are Fagade Tope, 29; Akindun Adeniyi, 34; Duduyemi Patrick, 35.

They were arrested in a sting operation carried out on a cybercafe in the state capital following a tip-off by members of the public. Briefing journalists on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, the state Commandant, Don Ikemefuna, said the suspects specialised in printing, selling, manipulating and forging JAMB registration forms, admission letters as well as changing JAMB registration numbers.

He said, “These people want to reap where they did not sow. Some victims paid as much as N46,000. These people who don’t want JAMB to succeed will be brought to book.” Ikemefuna urged parents and candidates to be wary of the activities of the fraudsters operating a cybercafe. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, at the event, stressed that the UTME form had yet to be on sale. The Director, Special Duties, Olujide Adisa, who represented him, said the suspects took advantage of the September to February sale period of the UTME form to defraud people when the form had yet to come out. “The form is not out. We have not licensed cybercafe for the 2017 UTME. The list of cybercafe that can register our candidates will be on our website. “We would advertise when it is time. We have even changed our processes. Everything is e-payment.”