UTME 2025: JAMB Probes Anambra Top Scorer Chinedu Christian

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has opened an investigation into Chinedu Okeke, the top scorer in the 2025 UTME, over suspected examination malpractice.

JAMB raised red flags after discovering that Okeke, who scored 375, had already secured admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 2024.

Speaking at the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede revealed that Okeke had applied this year to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos.

However, JAMB’s internal checks uncovered that Okeke is currently a registered medical student at UNN, admitted just one year ago.

“UNN confirmed that Mr. Okeke is their student and doing well,” Prof. Oloyede said during the meeting.

The discovery triggered concerns about dual matriculation, which is prohibited under Nigerian academic law.

JAMB Spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin added that Okeke’s conflicting records suggest possible impersonation or identity manipulation.

“He claimed to be from the South-East, but another record shows Lagos as his state of origin,” Benjamin told reporters.

“This gives him an unfair advantage, and we suspect he may have acted as a mercenary during the UTME.”

Dr. Benjamin emphasized that the law forbids any candidate from matriculating more than once.

Doing so violates admission ethics and gives unfair leverage over first-time applicants.

JAMB said it is investigating how Okeke managed to sit for UTME while already enrolled in a full-time program.

Other Top Scorers Named Amid Ongoing Review

Despite the controversy, JAMB went ahead to publish the list of 2025’s top-performing candidates.

Ayuba John from Gombe State ranked second with 374.

Olayinka Jimoh from Kwara State followed with 373.

Ayibo Roberts (Rivers), Chibueze Omonugbo (Enugu), Tunmise Olawepo (Kwara), and Leslie Afinotan (Delta) also scored 373.

Candidates who scored 372 include Chukwuemeka Azoyenime (Delta), Emmanuel Oyebode (Ogun), and Cecil Omigie (Edo).

JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, fairness, and transparency in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.

The board vowed to pursue the investigation and uphold its zero-tolerance stance on academic fraud.

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