A special committee set up to probe examination infractions during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has recommended the cancellation of the results of 6,319 candidates involved in technology-assisted malpractices.
The panel, which was constituted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), also recommended the banning of indicted candidates for one to three years, and prosecution of the candidates involved in the infractions and their collaborators.
The special committee, headed by the Founder of The Albino Foundation, Dr. Jake Epelle, presented its report to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, yesterday in Abuja.
Epelle, who read the report of the committee, noted that the cheating methods used by the candidates were sophisticated, including the use of technology.
The committee chairman said the committee documented 4,251 cases of “finger blending,” 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, and 1,878 false declarations of albinism.
He identified other forms of cheating to include credential forgery, multiple National Identity Number (NIN) registrations, and solicitation schemes.
According to him, the cheating that occurred was not limited to candidates alone but included a syndicate involving some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and technical accomplices.
Ekpelle said the legal framework for tackling biometric and digital fraud was inadequate, adding that public confidence in the examination process was eroding.
To address the issue, the chairman said his committee proposed a multi-layered framework built on detection, deterrence, and prevention.
The framework includes deploying AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, real-time monitoring, and a National Examination Security Operations Centre.
Epelle also said the committee suggested strengthening mobile-first self-service platforms, digitising correction workflows, enhancing disability verification, and prohibiting bulk school-led registrations.
The committee chairman also called for amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to include biometric and digital fraud.
Besides these measures, he said the committee proposed a nationwide “Integrity First” campaign to promote ethics and values among students.
For candidates younger than 18 years, Epelle said the committee recommended rehabilitative measures under the Child Rights Act, focusing on counseling and supervised re-registration.
He added: “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.
“But if we act with courage — through bold reforms, technological innovation, cultural reorientation, and uncompromising enforcement—we can turn this tide.
“Today, as we hand over this report, we affirm our collective commitment to defend the integrity of the Nigerian education system. This report is not just about exposing fraud; it is about charting a new course for transparency, fairness, and meritocracy in admissions.”
Receiving the report, Oloyede assured the committee that the JAMB would prioritise implementation of the recommendations, particularly those within the board’s mandate.
The registrar said the board would consult the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on some of the issues the committee raised.
He said: “Examination malpractice is not a victimless crime. It devalues education, cheats hardworking candidates, and produces incompetent professionals: engineers who cannot build, doctors who endanger lives, and graduates unfit to contribute to society.”
