The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has inaugurated a special-purpose committee to investigate 6,458 cases of technologically driven examination malpractice uncovered during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The 23-member committee was formally inaugurated on Monday in Abuja by JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who expressed concern over the growing complexity and sophistication of exam fraud in recent years.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Oloyede lamented the rise of high-tech cheating, describing the methods as far removed from traditional forms of malpractice. He revealed that the results of 6,458 candidates remain under scrutiny for alleged involvement in “advanced technological infractions.”
“This year, we came across a number of strange things, and we felt it would be better to expand our resources,” said Prof. Oloyede. “We believe that God has endowed this nation with a lot of resources that we can tap from.”
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According to him, malpractice has now evolved to include biometric and identity fraud carried out in collusion with some accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. These cases, he noted, required a higher level of investigation and expertise.
While 141 “ordinary” cases of exam malpractice have already been forwarded to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, this newly formed body will focus on more severe and unusual infractions. These include image blending, falsification of albinism, finger pairing (where candidates switch identities using fingerprint manipulation), and attempts to compromise the local area networks of certain CBT centres.
Professor Oloyede directed the committee to complete its work and submit a comprehensive report within three weeks of its inauguration.
The committee comprises notable academics and experts, including Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu. Also on the panel are retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Dr. Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Other key institutions are represented on the committee, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).
The formation of this committee marks a significant step by JAMB in tackling examination malpractice using both traditional investigative methods and modern technological expertise.
The board has reiterated its commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME and ensuring that only deserving candidates are admitted into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
