Bu John Umeh
Massive Fraud in the 2025 UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered more than 6,000 cases of technologically enabled examination malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The discovery was made by the Special Committee on Examination Infractions, chaired by Dr. Jake Epelle, who presented the panel’s report in Abuja on Monday.
Dr. Epelle described the malpractice trend as “a highly organised, technology-driven, and culturally normalised enterprise,” warning that the credibility of Nigeria’s examination system is under growing threat.
Breakdown of the Infractions
The committee’s findings revealed shocking levels of digital fraud, including:
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4,251 cases of “finger blending” (where biometric details are manipulated to impersonate other candidates).
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190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing (using artificial intelligence to alter identity verification photos).
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1,878 false claims of albinism (as some candidates falsely declared disabilities to gain special concessions).
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Multiple cases of fake National Identification Numbers (NINs), credential forgery, and syndicate-backed fraud schemes.
Dr. Epelle emphasised that these infractions were not committed by candidates alone, but also involved collusion with computer-based test (CBT) centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and technical accomplices.
Inadequate Legal Framework
The panel cautioned that Nigeria’s existing legal provisions are insufficient to address the rise of biometric and AI-related fraud. Without urgent reforms, public trust in national examinations may be completely eroded.
“The fraud has become systemic and cannot be tackled by JAMB alone,” Epelle noted, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, schools, and law enforcement.
Recommendations to JAMB
To safeguard future examinations, the committee issued a set of sweeping recommendations:
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Technology and Security Enhancements
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Deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection.
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Introduce dual verification systems and real-time monitoring tools.
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Establish a National Examination Security Operations Centre.
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Sanctions and Enforcement
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Cancel results of confirmed fraudulent candidates.
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Impose 1–3 year bans on offenders.
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Prosecute both candidates and collaborators.
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Create a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to schools, institutions, and employers.
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Policy and Administrative Reforms
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Digitise correction workflows and strengthen mobile-first self-service platforms.
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Tighten disability verification processes.
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Ban bulk school-led registrations to reduce syndicate manipulation.
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Legal Reforms
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Amend the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to explicitly criminalise biometric and AI-related fraud.
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Establish a dedicated Legal Unit within JAMB to handle prosecutions.
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Looking Ahead
The committee, inaugurated on August 18, 2025, was tasked with investigating and recommending solutions to the rising wave of exam malpractice. With its findings now public, pressure mounts on JAMB and the Federal Government to adopt stricter technological safeguards and legal measures.
Educational stakeholders warn that if urgent action is not taken, the integrity of national examinations—and by extension, university admissions—could face irreversible damage.
