JAMB Uncovers Over 6,000 Technology-Driven Malpractice Cases in 2025 UTME

Abuja, Monday September 8, 2025 – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered more than 6,000 cases of technology-enabled examination malpractice in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

This was revealed by the chairman of JAMB’s Special Committee on Examination Infractions, Dr. Jake Epelle, while presenting the panel’s report in Abuja.

Epelle disclosed that 1,878 candidates falsely claimed to be albinos while others engaged in biometric fraud, digital identity manipulation, fake National Identification Numbers, credential forgery and syndicate-backed schemes during the conduct of the examination.

He described the trend as a “highly organised, technology-driven and culturally normalised enterprise.”

Providing a breakdown of the infractions, Epelle said the committee documented 4,251 cases of “finger blending,” 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, 1,878 false declarations of albinism, as well as multiple cases of credential forgery and syndicate-led fraud. He stressed that the malpractice was not limited to candidates but was supported by some CBT centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators and technical accomplices.

The committee warned that existing laws are inadequate to combat the rising threat of biometric and digital fraud, noting that public trust in Nigeria’s examination system is at risk.

It recommended that JAMB deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, real-time monitoring and establish a National Examination Security Operations Centre. It further advised the cancellation of results of confirmed fraudulent candidates, bans ranging from one to three years, prosecution of offenders and their collaborators, and the creation of a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to institutions and employers.

Additional recommendations included strengthening mobile-first self-service platforms, digitising correction workflows, tightening disability verification and banning bulk school-led registrations. The committee also urged legal reforms, calling for amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to address biometric and digital fraud, as well as the establishment of a dedicated Legal Unit within JAMB.

The Special Committee was inaugurated on August 18 with a mandate to investigate, review and recommend strategies to curb technology-enabled malpractice in Nigeria’s examinations.