A woman was scammed out of ₦1.5 million by a cybercafé operator who falsely promised her admission into Lagos State College of Health Technology, prompting official condemnation and a broader crackdown on admission fraud in Nigerian institutions.
A woman has reportedly lost ₦1.5 million to a cybercafé operator who promised to help her secure admission into the Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET).
According to a statement released by the Lagos State Government on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the woman initially paid ₦500,000 to the suspect, identified as Mr. Arapatile, who claimed he could facilitate her admission into the college. After this first payment, additional amounts were demanded and paid, bringing the total to ₦1.5 million.
When the promised admission failed to materialize, Arapatile allegedly reassured the victim that she could still attend classes and would eventually receive a certificate. When she insisted on a refund, he reportedly threatened to silence her. This prompted her to report the matter to the school authorities.
During interrogation, Arapatile admitted to the allegations but claimed that the admission offer was not for LASCOHET, but rather for a professional body he called “CIMB”, for which he claimed to be a liaison officer. He was, however, unable to explain what the acronym stood for. Authorities also recovered stamp pads from other institutions at his shop, suggesting the possibility of broader fraudulent activity. Investigations are ongoing.
School Authorities React
The Provost of LASCOHET, Professor Raheem Akewushola, emphasized that Arapatile is not affiliated with the college in any capacity—neither as a staff member nor an authorized agent. He condemned the fraudulent activity and assured the public that the institution has zero tolerance for admission fraud. He also stated that the college would pursue legal action to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable.
Wider Crackdown on Admission Fraud
In a related development, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, disclosed that the university has begun a crackdown on similar scams within its institution. She confirmed that disciplinary action has already been taken against a staff member who allegedly accepted ₦400,000 from the mother of a prospective student with the promise of securing admission into the medical faculty.
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