Three cybercafe operators have been arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command for defrauding unsuspecting students of Kaduna State University (KASU) of N60 million in tuition fees.
The suspects, identified as Muhammad Uthman Busari, AbdulAzeez Hamza, and Noel Nims Audiya, allegedly compromised the university’s registration portal and exploited students who opted for online payments.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, announced in a statement on Wednesday that the suspected fraudsters have defrauded over 300 students of the university.
According to the police spokesperson, the syndicate would collect full tuition fees from students but only deposit a fraction into the state’s Treasury Single Account (TSA). They then manipulated the electronic transaction receipts to show the complete payment. This elaborate scheme allowed them to steal over N60 million from more than 300 students.
Busari, the alleged mastermind, used the stolen funds to build and furnish a house, purchase a car and electronics, and acquire land in Kaduna and Kwara states.
All three suspects have been formally charged and are awaiting prosecution.
The statement read, “The suspects, who are mainly cyber cafe operators, compromised the students’ registration portal and exploited students who opted to pay their fees online instead of through the normal banking platforms.
“The suspects often collected tuition fees from students in full but would pay a lesser amount into the state’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) and then intercept and manipulate the electronic transaction receipts from the TSA to reflect the full payment.
“So far, the suspects have shortchanged over 300 students of KASU, with the total amount involved estimated at over N60 million. The principal suspect, Muhammad Uthman Busari, reportedly used the funds to build and furnish a house, purchase a car, electronic appliances, gadgets, and plots of land in both Kaduna and Kwara states.
“The suspects have been charged in court for prosecution. To combat computer-related crimes in the state, the Kaduna State Police Command wishes to inform the public about the newly established cybercrime unit by the Commissioner of Police, A.D. Ali, aimed at investigating cybercrime-related offenses.
“Therefore, victims of social media account hacking, fake purchase alerts, deceptive social romance, cryptocurrency, and forex frauds, among many other offenses within the state, should forward their complaints to the Commissioner of Police through the newly created unit for diligent investigation.”
