A special committee set up by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has uncovered large-scale cheating involving 6,319 candidates in the 2025 unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).
Presenting the report in Abuja on Monday, Jake Epelle, chairman of the committee, said the malpractice was “sophisticated and technology-driven,” involving syndicates of parents, schools, tutorial centres, and some computer-based test (CBT) operators.
According to Epelle, the panel documented 4,251 cases of ‘finger blending’, 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, and 1,878 false declarations of albinism.
Other cases included credential forgery, multiple national identity number (NIN) registrations, and solicitation schemes.
“Registrar Sir, our conclusion is unambiguous: if left unchecked, examination malpractice will continue to erode merit, undermine public trust, and destroy the very foundation of Nigeria’s education and human capital development,” Epelle warned.
He noted that the existing legal framework for tackling biometric and digital fraud is inadequate, adding that “public confidence in the examination process is fast eroding.”
The committee proposed a multi-layered security framework built on detection, deterrence, and prevention.
The measures include AI-powered biometric anomaly detection and dual verification systems, real-time monitoring through a national examination security operations centre, cancelling fraudulent results and imposing one- to three-year bans and prosecution of candidates and collaborators.
Epelle also called for the digitisation of correction workflows, stricter disability verification, and a ban on bulk school-led registrations.
He urged lawmakers to amend the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to cover biometric and digital fraud.
In addition, the committee proposed a nationwide Integrity First campaign to instil ethics and values among students.
For candidates under 18, it recommended rehabilitative measures under the Child Rights Act, including counselling and supervised re-registration.
“This report is not just about exposing fraud; it is about charting a new course for transparency, fairness, and meritocracy in admissions. If we act with courage—through bold reforms, technological innovation, cultural reorientation, and uncompromising enforcement—we can turn this tide,” Epelle said.
