The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has constituted a 23-member Special Committee to investigate a wave of sophisticated, technology-enabled malpractices uncovered during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
While inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, raised alarm over the increasing complexity of exam fraud, stating that results of 6,458 candidates are currently under scrutiny due to suspected involvement in advanced cheating techniques.
“This year, we encountered some unusual practices, and we thought it wise to widen our investigative scope. We are confident that Nigeria has abundant human resources we can draw from,” Oloyede remarked.
He explained that examination fraud had now gone beyond conventional cheating tactics, evolving into highly technical schemes, including biometric manipulation and identity falsification by candidates and some accredited CBT centres. The registrar emphasized the urgency of addressing these threats to preserve the integrity of national examinations.
Oloyede revealed that while 141 conventional malpractice cases had already been forwarded to JAMB’s Disciplinary Committee, this newly inaugurated panel will handle more complex infractions, such as image and fingerprint blending, falsification of albinism, and attempts to infiltrate the Local Area Network (LAN) of CBT centres.
The committee has been tasked with:
- Investigating cases of image blending, fingerprint pairing, albinism falsification, and result manipulation recorded in the 2025 UTME
- Identifying the technologies, methods, and trends used to carry out such offences
- Reviewing existing exam and registration frameworks
- Recommending necessary reforms to strengthen the system
The panel has a three-week deadline to conclude its assignment and submit a comprehensive report.
