A former staff member of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Olayiwola Oguntade, has been sentenced to five years in prison without an option of a fine for fraud.  

Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan delivered the judgment on January 28, 2025, following Oguntade’s conviction on charges of forgery, advance fee fraud, and obtaining by false pretence.  

Oguntade was initially arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 13, 2020, on a three-count amended charge involving fraudulent activities amounting to N10 million.  

Details of the Charges

According to the EFCC’s statement released on Wednesday, count one accused Oguntade of fraudulently obtaining N10 million from Polybadan Microfinance Bank Ltd in 2010 under false pretences through Kola Al-Amin. The offence contravened Section 1 (i)(b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.  

The second charge stated that Oguntade forged a Local Purchase Order (LPO) titled “Re: Supply of Internet Services,” purportedly issued by JAMB on October 15, 2010. This act violated Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.  

Despite pleading not guilty, Oguntade faced a trial lasting over four years. Prosecution counsels Oyelakin Oyediran and Lanre Suleiman presented 10 witnesses and submitted several incriminating documents, which the court admitted as evidence.  

Court Verdict and Fraudulent Scheme

Delivering the judgment, Justice Taiwo ruled:  

"The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and the court is convinced that the defendant is guilty of the offences filed against him by the EFCC." 

Investigations revealed that Oguntade, who worked in JAMB’s Finance and Accounts Department, forged an LPO and a Letter of Domiciliation to fraudulently secure a N10 million loan from Polybadan Microfinance Bank. He falsely claimed the funds were for executing a JAMB-awarded internet services contract.  

To facilitate the fraud, he enlisted Kola Al-Amin, a customer of the microfinance bank, who unknowingly presented the forged documents on his behalf. The loan was subsequently disbursed and transferred to three companies—Reeden Investment Limited, Danmarg Multiventures Company, and Enrich System Nigeria Limited.  

Further investigations uncovered that Oguntade had previously issued forged LPOs to these companies and used the fraudulently obtained funds to settle existing debts.  

Following his conviction, he was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre to serve his sentence.