The Special Committee on Examination Infractions, set up by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has revealed more than 6,000 cases of advanced, technology-enabled malpractices in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The committee’s chairman, Dr. Jake Epelle, presented the report on Monday at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to the findings, the infractions included 4,251 cases of “finger blending”, a form of biometric manipulation used to falsify fingerprint verification during the examination. The panel also documented 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, where candidates used artificial intelligence tools to impersonate others. In addition, 1,878 candidates falsely claimed albinism, exploiting disability privileges provided by the examination body. Other cases ranged from credential forgery and multiple NIN registrations to elaborate schemes orchestrated by syndicates involving CBT centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and even technical accomplices.
BusinessDay reports that at least 6,319 UTME results may be cancelled following the committee’s recommendations. The panel warned that examination malpractice in Nigeria has evolved into “a highly organised, technology-driven, and culturally normalised enterprise,” raising concerns that the integrity of the country’s tertiary admission process is at risk.
The committee also cautioned that existing laws are insufficient to tackle the new wave of biometric and digital fraud. To address the problem, it recommended that JAMB deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, and real-time monitoring tools. It further called for the establishment of a National Examination Security Operations Centre, stricter disability verification, digitised correction workflows, and a ban on bulk school-led registrations.
On sanctions, the panel urged JAMB to cancel the results of fraudulent candidates, impose bans of one to three years, prosecute both candidates and collaborators, and create a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to institutions and employers. For underage offenders, however, it advised rehabilitative measures in line with the Child Rights Act, including counselling and supervised re-registration.
The report also recommended legal reforms, including amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act, to specifically criminalise biometric and digital fraud. It further suggested the creation of a dedicated Legal Unit within JAMB to strengthen enforcement and prosecution.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, clarified that while the committee uncovered thousands of tech-driven infractions, only about 140 traditional cheating cases were officially recorded during the UTME. This, he explained, highlights a significant shift from conventional malpractice to sophisticated, technology-enabled fraud.
The Special Committee was inaugurated on August 18, 2025, with a mandate to investigate 6,458 suspected cases, review JAMB’s security protocols, and recommend reforms to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.
