The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched a major investigation into 6,458 candidates accused of using sophisticated technology to cheat in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Monday, August 18, inaugurated a 23-member Special Committee on Examination Infraction to handle what he described as the “most complex wave of exam fraud” the board has ever faced.
According to Oloyede, exam malpractice has moved far beyond impersonation and answer sharing.
He revealed that investigators discovered advanced methods such as biometric manipulation, image blending, falsified albinism claims, and attempts to hack into Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres’ networks.
“This year, we came across strange cases that required us to expand our resources,” Oloyede said.
“Examination malpractice is something we must fight with every pinch of blood in our veins. If left unchecked, it will destroy our education system and tarnish Nigeria’s image globally.”
The registrar disclosed that 141 “normal” malpractice cases have already gone to JAMB’s disciplinary committee.
However, the newly inaugurated body will focus on “extraordinary infractions” involving advanced digital fraud and criminal collusion.
He outlined the committee’s duties:
- Investigate identity fraud cases such as image and finger blending.
- Review claims of albinism falsification and result tampering.
- Examine the technologies used to commit the fraud.
- Recommend stronger exam policies.
- Decide the fate of 6,458 candidates whose results remain under probe.
Oloyede gave the committee a three-week deadline, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
He explained that admissions will close in about four weeks, and innocent candidates should not miss out on opportunities because of prolonged investigations.
Committee chairman, Dr. Jake Epele, assured Nigerians that his team will treat the assignment as a national duty.
“Examination malpractice is not just a breach of rules. It is a direct assault on merit and the future of our youth,” Epele said. “Everyone on this committee has a sacred duty not a job.
We must defend the credibility of JAMB exams, restore public confidence, and prove that honesty remains the path to opportunity.”
The 23-member panel includes academics, security experts, and representatives from Microsoft Africa, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
For many Nigerian youths, JAMB’s UTME remains the single gateway to higher education.
Any compromise in the system undermines fairness, discourages hard work, and erodes trust in national institutions.
By aggressively tackling tech-enabled fraud, JAMB hopes to protect both the credibility of exams and the future of millions of students.