The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has warned that candidates and parents involved in examination malpractice will face strict penalties, describing the situation as a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Oloyede said the Board convened the briefing to address activities that undermine fairness, merit, and credibility in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He explained that JAMB has invested heavily in financial, technological, and institutional safeguards to protect the examination process, stressing that such measures are essential to preserve opportunities for honest candidates.
According to him, investigations recently uncovered criminal syndicates using artificial intelligence tools to impersonate JAMB officials and defraud prospective candidates. He, however, noted that some students and parents were active participants in the scheme.
Oloyede revealed that over 100 candidates were implicated, with 83 confirmed to have made payments. The cases span 25 states, indicating that the problem is widespread rather than region-specific. He added that the Board has recommended cancelling the registrations of those involved and has forwarded the matter to the Minister of Education.
The registrar also dismissed claims that JAMB had increased its registration fees, insisting that no such adjustment had been made. He urged candidates to report any centre charging more than the approved rate. Some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres linked to the fraud have already been suspended.
Rejecting calls for negotiations with offenders, Oloyede questioned the logic of bargaining with criminals, stating that suspects who fled the country after previous examinations must submit themselves to security agencies for proper investigation.
He warned that paying for examination assistance, joining online groups offering fraudulent services, or receiving illegal help would attract severe consequences, adding that ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse.
Addressing parents directly, he cautioned that funding examination fraud does not secure a child’s future but instead promotes dishonesty and erodes merit. He also disclosed that some school proprietors were among those arrested.
Oloyede expressed confidence in JAMB’s ability to counter sophisticated fraud schemes, citing collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Directorate of State Services, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He said the Board has strengthened its technical systems, including mechanisms to detect prohibited devices during examinations.
The registrar also raised concerns about underage candidates allegedly involved in fraudulent activities, noting that many were supported by their parents.
He appealed to the media to help educate the public on the dangers of examination malpractice and urged parents not to expose their children to criminal behaviour.
The 2026 UTME registration commenced on January 26 and ended at accredited centres on February 28, with the general registration window closing on February 26. As of February 17, more than 1.5 million candidates had registered for the examination.