The board on Monday inaugurated a 23-member special committee in Abuja to probe what it described as “extraordinary infractions” in the conduct of this year’s exam.
Rising sophistication of exam fraud
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, warned that examination malpractice had evolved from crude methods to advanced technological schemes that now threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.
“Examination malpractice is something that we must fight with every pinch of blood in our veins,” Oloyede declared. “Unchecked fraud could harm several sectors and tarnish Nigeria’s image.”
While 141 cases of conventional malpractice have already been forwarded to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, the new panel will focus on sophisticated forms of fraud, including image blending, finger pairing, falsification of albinism status, and attempts to hack the Local Area Network (LAN) of CBT centres.
Committee mandate and timeline
Oloyede explained that the committee’s terms of reference include investigating the specific technologies and patterns used to perpetrate fraud, reviewing current registration and exam policies, and recommending improvements.
“We have chosen three weeks because justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. “In about four weeks, admission will close, and those who are innocent must not be denied the opportunity to study.”
The committee, chaired by Dr. Jake Epele, pledged to treat the assignment with the seriousness it deserves. “Examination malpractice is not just a breach of rules; it is a direct assault on integrity, merit, and the future of our nation’s youth,” Epele said. “This is not just a job—it is a call to defend the credibility of our examinations and restore public confidence.”
Members include academics, technologists, security experts, and youth representatives, among them Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Dr. Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Federal Government steps in
The probe comes against the backdrop of a new Federal Government directive imposing a three-year ban on any student caught engaging in malpractice across all national external exams, including JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
Announced on May 27 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the ban will be enforced through students’ National Identification Numbers (NIN), effectively preventing offenders from evading sanctions.
The government has also warned that schools and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found aiding malpractice—or operating as so-called “miracle centres”—will face withdrawal of accreditation for several years.
Restoring credibility
The combined efforts of JAMB and the Federal Government mark a decisive attempt to stem a menace that has plagued Nigeria’s education system for decades. With over 6,000 UTME results now under review and tougher sanctions in place, education stakeholders say the credibility of Nigeria’s examinations and the integrity of admissions into tertiary institutions may well hinge on the success of this crackdown.