The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has rearrested Emmanuel Praise Akataka, a member of an examination fraud syndicate previously arrested for registration related offences, after he reconnected with the same victims he had earlier defrauded and demanded additional payments.

Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of JAMB, disclosed this during a press conference at the board's Bwari headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, revealing that Akataka returned to the same illicit trade targeting vulnerable UTME candidates with even more sophisticated tactics after being granted bail.

Operating under the aliases "Official Frederick" and later "Sir Frederick", Akataka reportedly lured no fewer than 94 candidates into paying for non-existent services, including inflated scores and protection from registration cancellation.

Zainab Hamza, JAMB's Director of Special Duties, who represented the Registrar, disclosed that after his initial arrest, affected candidates were given a fair hearing, leading to the cancellation of their registrations with ministerial approval.

Investigations showed that upon release, the suspect reconnected with the same victims, demanding ₦70,000 each under the false claim that he could influence JAMB decisions and reverse their sanctions.

To evade detection, Akataka allegedly used multiple bank accounts, including one linked to his father, registered in the name of Vincent Okpowho Akataka, and another fraudulently opened under the name "Zainab Rafiu", whom he falsely presented as a JAMB director to gain credibility.

The suspect, a 26 year old native of Delta State, blamed his actions on poverty and mounting family pressures during interrogation, admitting to making over ₦1.5 million from the scheme, though JAMB insisted he made more than ₦8 million.

"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," Akataka stated during an interview with reporters at the board's headquarters.

JAMB described the development as deeply troubling, noting that some candidates continue to fall prey to fraudulent schemes in pursuit of illegal advantages despite repeated warnings.

The examination body warned that candidates who engage with such syndicates risk not only financial loss but also severe legal consequences, reaffirming its zero tolerance stance and disclosing that it has secured multiple convictions in recent times, including a three year jail sentence handed to Ibrahim Abdulaziz for impersonation during the 2025 UTME.