Katsina Federal High Court sentences Ibrahim Abdulaziz to three years imprisonment for impersonating a UTME candidate, highlighting exam fraud deterrence

A Federal High Court in Katsina on Thursday sentenced a youth, Ibrahim Abdulaziz, to three years imprisonment for impersonating a UTME candidate.

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The prosecutor, Mr A.D. Saleh of the Katsina Police Command, told the court that Abdulaziz impersonated Bolanwu Emmanuel during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on April 30, 2025, at Zee Alpha Academy, Funtua.

Abdulaziz was charged under sections 3(1)(a) and (b), and 3(2)(c) of the Examinations Malpractice Act, Cap E15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecution presented three witnesses and tendered the examination slip as evidence.

The defence counsel, M.T. Steve, had objected to the admission of the examination slip, but Justice Hussaini Dadan-Garba overruled the objection and admitted it as an exhibit.

The convict denied any link with Bolanwu Emmanuel and claimed he was a UTME candidate, but failed to prove it in court.

Justice Dadan-Garba convicted Abdulaziz and sentenced him to three years imprisonment without the option of a fine, stating the sentence was meant to serve as a deterrent.

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The court acquitted the first defendant, Bolanwu Emmanuel, clearing him of any wrongdoing.