JAMB Probes 6,458 UTME Results Over High-Tech Cheating

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched an investigation into 6,458 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results flagged for suspected involvement in advanced forms of examination malpractice.

To address the issue, JAMB inaugurated a 23-member special committee on Monday in Abuja, tasked with probing cases of technology-driven infractions uncovered during the 2025 UTME.

High-Tech Cheating Methods Detected

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, highlighted the alarming sophistication of malpractice techniques, noting that fraud had shifted from traditional forms to highly technical schemes.

“This year, we came across a number of strange things, and we felt it would be better to expand our resources. We believe that God has endowed this nation with a lot of resources that we can tap from,” Oloyede said.

According to him, the fraud involved biometric and identity manipulation, allegedly carried out by some accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in collaboration with candidates.

Among the extraordinary infractions flagged were:

Image blending
Albinism falsification
Finger pairing
Attempts to breach Local Area Network (LAN) security at CBT centres

So far, 141 cases of conventional malpractice have already been referred to JAMB’s disciplinary committee. The new panel, however, will focus exclusively on these advanced infractions.

Grave Threat to Nigeria’s Education System

Prof. Oloyede warned that failure to curb such practices could have devastating effects on Nigeria’s image and the credibility of its educational system.

“Examination malpractice is something that we must fight with every pinch of blood in our veins. If left unchecked, it could harm several sectors and tarnish Nigeria’s reputation,” he said.

Committee Mandate

The 23-member panel will:

Investigate cases of image blending, finger blending, albinism falsification, and result manipulation.
Identify the methods, patterns, tools, and technologies used to perpetrate these infractions.
Review JAMB’s existing registration and exam policies and recommend improvements.
Determine the culpability of each of the 6,458 suspected candidates, except for albinism-related cases, which are being treated separately.

The committee has been given three weeks to conclude its work. Oloyede emphasized the urgency, noting that admissions into tertiary institutions would close within four weeks.

“We believe that those who are found not guilty should have the opportunity to secure admission without delay,” he added.

Committee Response

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Chairman Dr. Jake Epele pledged total dedication, describing the assignment as a national duty.

“Examination malpractice is not just a breach of rules. It is a direct assault on integrity, merit, and the future of our nation’s youth. This task is sacred. We must defend the credibility of our examinations, restore public confidence, and ensure that honesty remains the true pathway to opportunity,” Epele said.

The committee 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, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), among others.

✅ This move marks one of JAMB’s most decisive steps in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system, sending a strong signal that technology-aided exam malpractice will not go unpunished.