JAMB Busts Exam Syndicate: Two Arrested, 19 Malpractice Centres Exposed

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has identified Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Imo and Anambra States as the top culprits in fingerprint pairing fraud during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

During the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, data presented revealed that Anambra topped the list with six indicted centres, followed by Imo State with four.

Other states flagged for malpractice include Abia, Edo, Ebonyi, Delta, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, and Enugu, each with at least one compromised CBT centre.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed the findings while addressing vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and other education stakeholders. He noted that the board had also uncovered more advanced forms of exam malpractice, including the use of albinos for image manipulation and remote upload mechanisms, all aimed at bypassing biometric and facial verification systems.

“These schemes threaten the credibility of our exams,” Oloyede stated, adding that the board will continue to enhance its surveillance and technological capabilities to outsmart fraudsters.

Two Arraigned in Katsina Over UTME Impersonation

In a related development, two individuals were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Katsina for alleged impersonation during the 2025 UTME.

The police prosecutor, Abdussalam Danmaidaki, revealed that Bolanwu Emmanuel recruited Ibrahim Abdulaziz to sit for the exam on his behalf on April 30 at Zee Alpha International School, Funtua.

“Abdulaziz fraudulently took the exam using registration number 2025515278JA in Emmanuel’s name,” Danmaidaki informed the court.

The charges, brought under multiple sections of the Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, were met with not-guilty pleas from both defendants. The prosecutor requested an adjournment to prepare witnesses.

Justice Hussaini Dadan-Garba adjourned the matter to July 18 for trial proceedings.

Meanwhile, JAMB’s Registrar stressed the board’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting offenders and maintaining zero tolerance for examination malpractice.