Anambra, Lagos Lead In UTME Malpractices As JAMB Nabs 80

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that 80 suspects are being interrogated by the police for their involvement in 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) malpractices.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this during a press briefing at JAMB Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Oloyede said new methods of exam fraud were observed during the registration and examination processes, including identity fraud, biometric fraud involving combined thumbprints of candidates and impersonators at registration points with the involvement of some CBT centres, double registration, and attempted substitution of self by candidates.

According to Oloyede, Anambra had the highest number, with 14 suspects arrested for 13 cases of impersonation and one picture mismatch.

Lagos follows with nine suspects arrested for two cases of impersonation, two spying, and five possession of mobile phones.

Other states with notable arrests include Delta with eight suspects for impersonation, Kano with seven suspects for five impersonation and two mobile phones, and Kaduna with six suspects for five impersonation and one mobile phone.

Additionally, six suspects were arrested in Rivers for three impersonations, one mobile phone, and two calculators, while Ebonyi and Enugu had five suspects each for impersonation.

One suspect each was also arrested in Imo, Ondo, Abia, Nasarawa, Plateau, Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Kogi, Ogun, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe, with various forms of malpractice alleged, including impersonation, spying, possession of mobile phones, and double registration.

The Registrar added that in a desperate bid to tarnish the image of the Board, certain candidates smuggled cameras, phones into the examination hall to capture the live questions and circulate the images as if they were obtained elsewhere.

He added that 244 results were withheld due to candidates engaging in “WhatsApp examination runs,” where they sought assistance from fraudulent websites.

“The Board’s decision to withhold the results of this category of candidates to send a clear message that those who engage in such activities are complicit in wrongdoing, regardless of whether the efforts succeed or fail,” he said.

He also reported challenges with biometric verification, with 2,157 candidates failing to confirm their candidature due to failed biometric authentication.

“There was the initial report from registration centres of 578 candidates whose biometric details were allegedly not capturable during the registration for whom the Board created another opportunity.

“Many of them were eventually successfully captured and verified for registration and were able to sit the examination without any hindrances. Only 69 candidates were granted exemption from the biometric verification process.

He added that investigations are ongoing, and those found not to be at fault would be rescheduled to sit the examination.

“A total of 3,656 candidates fall within this category. Consequently, the results of the candidates have been withheld,” he said.

Anambra, Lagos Lead In UTME Malpractices As JAMB Nabs 80 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper