Fresh data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has spotlighted Anambra and Lagos States as having the highest number of suspects currently under police interrogation for alleged involvement in examination malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
During a press briefing held at JAMB’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed alarming developments concerning emerging methods of fraud detected during both the registration and examination phases of the UTME.
According to Prof. Oloyede, JAMB is confronting increasingly sophisticated techniques of examination malpractice. These include biometric manipulation such as shared or combined thumbprints between actual candidates and hired impersonators, deliberate identity mismatches, and instances of double registration. The Registrar noted that some of these fraudulent activities were carried out with the active connivance of unscrupulous operators at certain Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
“We have discovered new trends in malpractice that show a high level of planning and collaboration. It’s not just about writing answers on paper anymore. We're now seeing digital fraud, biometric fraud, and coordinated impersonation schemes. These are systemic issues that threaten the integrity of our examination system,” Oloyede stated.
The official figures reveal that Anambra State tops the list, with 14 suspects apprehended for 13 cases of impersonation and one case of photo mismatch, where a candidate's registered image did not align with their real-time biometric data.
Lagos State follows closely behind, recording nine arrests. Suspects in Lagos were nabbed for various offences including impersonation, spying on fellow candidates, and illegal possession of mobile phones—contrary to JAMB’s strict examination guidelines.
Other states with significant malpractice-related arrests include:
Delta State, with eight suspects, all implicated in impersonation schemes.
Kano State, with seven suspects caught for both impersonation and unlawful possession of mobile devices.
Kaduna State, where six individuals were detained for similar offences.
These figures form part of a larger crackdown aimed at sanitizing Nigeria’s tertiary education admission process. JAMB, in collaboration with security agencies, is working to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted and blacklisted, not only from future examinations but also from gaining access to the nation’s higher education system.
Prof. Oloyede reaffirmed the board’s commitment to transparency and fairness, emphasizing that JAMB will continue to evolve its security measures and leverage technology to stay ahead of fraudulent actors.
“Every year, we upgrade our systems and protocols to prevent malpractice, but the perpetrators are also getting smarter. We are determined not to allow the actions of a few to discredit the efforts of thousands of honest candidates who worked hard to earn their scores,” he added.
As investigations continue, JAMB urges parents, students, and educational institutions to resist the temptation of cutting corners and instead embrace merit-based success. The message is clear: the era of exam malpractice must come to an end for Nigeria’s education system to thrive.
