A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the transfer of a criminal case filed against five suspects accused of hacking into the server of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, Computer-Based Test, CBT, to the Delta State Division of the court.
The Inspector-General of Police filed the six-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/300/2026, before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants were named as Ojiyovwi Miracle, Goodluck Ovuijeddo, Dennis Uvietesivwi, Ransome Monday and Hilda Ejohwemu.
All five defendants are said to be residents of Delta State.
The charge, filed on May 22, 2026, through prosecuting counsel, Faith Dimka, borders on alleged cybercrime, examination malpractice and cheating.
In count one, the defendants were accused of conspiring to commit offences involving unlawful access to a computer system and computer-related fraud.
The prosecution alleged in count two that on April 20, 2026, the defendants, without authorisation, intentionally accessed a computer system and network and remotely infiltrated the JAMB server.
They were alleged to have installed software known as RADMI on over 200 systems used for the 2026 UTME CBT.
According to the prosecution, the software allegedly enabled remote operation of the systems for fraudulent purposes and the extraction of data considered vital to national security.
In count three, the defendants were accused of knowingly and without authority causing loss of property by altering, erasing, inputting and suppressing data during the UTME CBT, with intent to confer economic benefit on themselves at the expense of JAMB.
Count four accused the defendants of conspiracy to commit examination malpractice, as well as aiding and abetting the offence.
In count five, the prosecution alleged that the defendants used fraudulent devices, false pretences and deceptive means to procure examination question papers intended for use during the UTME CBT.
Count six accused them of conspiring, aiding, abetting, counselling, inciting, procuring and inducing others to commit examination malpractice during the examination.
The first three counts are said to be punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Counts four, five and six are punishable under the Examination Malpractice Act, 1999, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, when the matter came up for arraignment before Justice Liman on Thursday, the arraignment could not proceed.
The judge observed that since all the defendants reside in Delta State, it would be more convenient and expeditious for the case to be heard at the Delta Division of the Federal High Court.
Justice Liman said transferring the matter would aid faster prosecution and ensure easier access for parties and witnesses.
The prosecuting counsel, Faith Dimka, and lawyers representing the defendants did not oppose the court’s suggestion.
Justice Liman consequently ordered that the case file be returned to the central registry for onward transfer to the Delta Division of the Federal High Court.
The defendants are expected to be arraigned after the case file is transferred.
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