UTME Fraud: 80% Linked to a Surprising Source, Says JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has traced most cases of malpractice in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to an unexpected source.

Jake Epelle, Chairman of JAMB’s Special Committee on Examination Infractions, revealed on Channels Television’s Politics Today that 80 per cent of fraudulent practices were instigated by parents seeking unfair advantages for their children.

“Eighty per cent of these infractions are caused by parents who want to give marks to their children that they don’t deserve,” Epelle disclosed after submitting the committee’s report to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, in Abuja.

The committee’s investigation uncovered 4,251 cases of “finger blending,” 190 cases of AI-powered impersonation through image morphing, 1,878 false disability claims, multiple NIN registrations, forged credentials, and collusion involving candidates, tutorial centres, and organised syndicates.

Epelle warned that while JAMB continues to deploy advanced systems, criminals are also leveraging technology to compromise the exam. “This is the age of AI. JAMB rolls out state-of-the-art technology, but there are smart young Nigerians conspiring to undermine it,” he said.

He called for “homegrown adaptive technology” to address Nigeria’s unique challenges. Despite the rise in malpractice, Epelle assured candidates and the public that JAMB, under Prof. Oloyede’s leadership, remains committed to fairness. “The system is robust, and JAMB will not condone any form of malpractice,” he affirmed.