The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 6,458 results from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are currently under investigation over suspected cases of technology-driven examination malpractice.
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, inaugurated a 23-member special committee in Abuja to handle the probe, stressing that examination fraud in Nigeria has advanced beyond traditional methods into sophisticated digital manipulations.
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Advanced Cheating Techniques
Oloyede disclosed that some accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres colluded with candidates to carry out biometric and identity fraud.
“Examination malpractice is something that we must fight with every pinch of blood in our veins. If unchecked, it could damage the education sector and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” Oloyede warned.
So far, 141 cases of conventional malpractice have been forwarded to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, while the new panel will focus on extraordinary infractions such as:
- Image blending
- Finger blending
- False claims of albinism
- Attempts to breach CBT centres’ Local Area Network (LAN)
- Advanced result falsification
Committee Assignment and Duration
The special committee is mandated to:
- Investigate the methods and technologies used in these infractions
- Determine the culpability of the 6,458 candidates under probe
- Recommend policy improvements for stronger exam security
The panel has been given three weeks to conclude its assignment so that innocent candidates can still participate in the ongoing admission process before it closes.
Committee chairman Dr. Jake Epele described the assignment as a matter of national importance, noting that exam malpractice threatens the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
Committee Members
Prominent members include:
- Prof. Muhammad Bello
- Prof. Samuel Odewummi
- Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba
- Prof. Tanko Ishaya
- Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu
- Retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni
- Dr. Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa
- The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
JAMB’s latest move underscores its commitment to protect exam integrity and ensure that merit and honesty remain the basis for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
