Chidimma Uchegbu
The Special Committee on Examination Infractions for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), constituted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has recommended the cancellation of results belonging to about 6,319 candidates involved in technology-driven cheating.
Presenting its findings in Abuja on Monday, committee chairman Dr. Jake Epelle disclosed that the panel also recommended bans ranging from one to three years for affected candidates, alongside their prosecution.
He said: “Examination malpractice has evolved into a highly organized, technology-driven, and culturally normalized enterprise.We documented 4,251 cases of ‘finger blending’, 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, 1,878 false declarations of albinism, and numerous cases of credential forgery, multiple NIN registrations, and solicitation schemes.
“This fraud is not the work of candidates alone—it is sustained by syndicates involving some CBT centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and even technical accomplices….”
Speaking on the recommendations of the committee, Epelle said: “To restore integrity to Nigeria’s admission system, we propose a multi-layered framework built on detection, deterrence, and prevention:
“Detection: Deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, real-time monitoring, and a National Examination Security Operations Centre.
” Deterrence: Cancel results of confirmed fraudulent candidates, impose bans of 1–3 years, prosecute both candidates and their collaborators, and create a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to institutions and employers.
“Prevention: Strengthen mobile-first self-service platforms, digitize correction workflows, tighten disability verification, and ban bulk school-led registrations.
“Legal Reform: Amend the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to recognize biometric and digital fraud, and provide for a Legal Unit within JAMB.”
Receiving the report, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede assured that the Board would prioritize implementation of the recommendations, particularly those within JAMB’s mandate, while it would also consult the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, on some of the issues.
Oloyede stressed that malpractice undermines the credibility of assessments and has far-reaching consequences:
“Examination malpractice is not a victimless crime. It devalues education, cheats hardworking candidates, and produces incompetent professionals, engineers who cannot build, doctors who endanger lives, and graduates unfit to contribute to society,” the JAMB boss said.
He noted that 80 per cent of malpractice cases were orchestrated by parents, warning that such complicity entrenches children in dishonesty and perpetuates underdevelopment.
While reporting a decline in traditional malpractice as only 140 cases were recorded this year, he cautioned that new technology-driven infractions remain a growing threat.
According to him, JAMB is pursuing a three-pronged strategy involving sanctions, investment in integrity through technology, and moral education to combat malpractice.
The Registrar praised the committee’s independence and professionalism.
Recall that Oloyede, had during the inauguration of the committee on 18 August decried the rising sophistication of exam fraud, revealing that the results of 6,458 candidates remain under investigation for alleged involvement in high-tech cheating.
He said the committee was given three weeks to conclude its assignment to enable those who are found innocent to process admission before September deadline.
The committee, composed of experts from academia, technology, security, civil society, and law, was given six clear terms of reference, including investigating methods of malpractice, reviewing the cases of 6,458 suspected candidates, and recommending sanctions and preventive measures.
