The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered 4,251 cases of fingerprint-related fraud and 192 instances of artificial intelligence–driven impersonation during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The revelations were made public on Tuesday by the board’s investigative panel, which reviewed biometric and digital records from the nationwide examination exercise. According to the panel, the fraudulent activities were part of a broader attempt by candidates and their collaborators to manipulate the integrity of the testing process.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, described the findings as deeply troubling, noting that while the board has invested heavily in biometric verification systems, fraudsters have continued to devise new methods to beat the system.
“Fingerprint substitution and impersonation remain the biggest threats to the credibility of the UTME. What is even more alarming is the emergence of AI-driven impersonation, where sophisticated technology was deployed to falsify identity during the examination,” Oloyede said.
He assured that the board would prosecute offenders and blacklist centres found to be complicit. He also disclosed that JAMB is working with security agencies and technology experts to strengthen its systems against future breaches.
Education stakeholders have expressed concern that the rising sophistication of examination malpractice could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process. Many have called for stiffer penalties for both candidates and syndicates involved in such practices.
The panel recommended continuous upgrades of JAMB’s biometric infrastructure, as well as public sensitisation campaigns to discourage candidates from seeking shortcuts.
The 2025 UTME was conducted earlier this year across accredited centres nationwide, with over 1.9 million candidates registered for the examination.
