The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that 6,458 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination outcomes are presently beneath probe for suspected involvement in high-tech dishonest.
The board inaugurated a 23-member particular committee to analyze circumstances of technology-driven malpractice detected in the course of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Talking in the course of the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Monday, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, raised issues over the altering nature of examination fraud, noting that malpractices had advanced from standard schemes to extremely technical strategies.
“This yr, we come throughout plenty of unusual issues and we felt that it might be higher if we develop our sources. We consider that God has endowed this nation with quite a lot of sources that we are able to faucet from,” Oloyede stated.
He revealed that circumstances concerned a number of situations of biometric and id fraud carried out by some accredited Pc-Based mostly Check (CBT) centres in collaboration with candidates.
Oloyede harassed that permitting such practices to go unchecked might have extreme penalties for Nigeria.
“Examination malpractice is one thing that we should battle with each pinch of blood in our veins. It is because unchecked fraud might hurt a number of sectors and tarnish Nigeria’s picture,” he stated.
In response to him, whereas 141 circumstances of regular malpractice have already been forwarded to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, the brand new panel will give attention to extraordinary infractions similar to picture mixing, albinism falsification, finger pairing, and makes an attempt to breach the Native Space Community (LAN) of some CBT centres.
Oloyede listed the phrases of reference of the committee to incorporate investigating circumstances of picture mixing, finger mixing, false claims of albinism, and outcome falsification recorded in the course of the 2025 UTME.
“Determine the strategies, patterns, instruments, and applied sciences used to perpetrate this infraction. Evaluate present examination and registration insurance policies and advocate enhancements,” he stated.
He defined that the committee can also be tasked with figuring out the culpability of every of the 6,458 suspected candidates, excluding these within the albinism class whose circumstances are being handled individually.
“We have now chosen three weeks as a result of justice delayed is alleged to be justice denied. In about 4 weeks, admission will shut. And we consider that those that are discovered to not be responsible ought to have the chance,” Oloyede added.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Dr Jake Epele, pledged dedication to the task, describing the work as a matter of nationwide significance.
“Examination malpractice isn’t just a breach of guidelines. It’s a direct assault on integrity, advantage, and the way forward for our nation’s youth. The duty earlier than us is due to this fact a sacred one. I consider that everybody on this committee, you don’t have a committee job. You’ve got a name from God Almighty. The decision is to defend the credibility of our examination, restore public confidence, and make sure that diligence and honesty stays the true pathway to alternative,” he stated.
Members of the committee embrace 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, and the President of the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian College students (NANS), amongst others.
The Federal Authorities has permitted a three-year ban for any scholar caught participating in examination malpractice. The directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Might 27, 2025, applies throughout all nationwide exterior examinations, together with JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
Enforcement will depend on college students’ Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN), making it tough for offenders to evade sanctions. Faculties and Pc-Based mostly Check (CBT) centres discovered aiding malpractice or working as miracle centres danger being derecognised for a number of years.
In response to the federal government, this measure is aimed toward deterring malpractice, discouraging parental complicity, and restoring credibility to Nigeria’s examination system.
