JAMB exam fraud report submitted, implicating 6,458 candidates in 2025 UTME irregularities. Disciplinary action expected

JAMB exam fraud investigations involving 6,458 suspected candidates have reached a critical milestone as the Special Committee on Examination Infractions concluded its work and submitted a damning report to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday, September 8, 2025.

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The committee, chaired by Dr. Jake Epelle of the TAF Foundation, was tasked with investigating irregularities in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Its mandate included identifying advanced technologies and tactics used in perpetrating exam malpractice and recommending sanctions against those found culpable.

JAMB had earlier withheld the results of all 6,458 candidates under scrutiny, pending the outcome of this investigation — a move the board said was necessary due to the sophistication of technology-driven cheating detected during the exams.

“The committee reviewed existing examination and registration policies and has suggested enhancements to safeguard future tests,” JAMB noted in its weekly bulletin.

The JAMB exam fraud report is expected to contain strong disciplinary recommendations, as well as preventive measures. Among its terms of reference were:

Identifying the tools and methods used for cheating
Determining the culpability of each suspect (excluding a special albinism group)
Proposing appropriate sanctions
Suggesting system reforms

Membership of the committee included top academics, security experts, and tech professionals.

Key names such as Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu (Deputy Chairperson), Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello, CP (Rtd) Fatai Owoseni, and representatives from the DSS, Police, Office of the NSA, and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) were part of the panel.

This investigation follows repeated warnings from JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, about rising digital fraud in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process. He has consistently stressed that examination integrity remains the board’s top priority.

The board is expected to release its final decisions on the 6,458 withheld results after reviewing the submitted report.