The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has exposed criminal syndicates using artificial intelligence to impersonate officials and defraud candidates during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar and CEO, described the development as a “grave and disturbing threat” to the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system.
“Over the years, the Board has invested heavily — financially, technologically, and institutionally — to safeguard the credibility of UTME. These efforts are necessary to protect millions of honest candidates,” Oloyede said.
He revealed that investigations identified over 100 candidates across 25 states, with 83 confirmed to have paid for illicit assistance. Oloyede stressed that both candidates and their parents were complicit.
“All those who subscribed and paid for assistance — we are making appropriate recommendations to authorities, particularly the Minister of Education, to cancel all registrations,” he said.
The Registrar also warned against fake claims about registration fees. “Some even said we increased our fee, which is not true. If anyone is charging above last year’s fee, report them to the Board,” he added.
JAMB has sanctioned several CBT centres involved in the fraud and suspended their participation. Oloyede rejected calls to negotiate with offenders, saying:
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“How do you monitor this type of thing? How do you negotiate with criminals? They should come through the normal process. We will refer them to the security agencies.”
He emphasized that paying for examination fraud is a crime, stating: “Being a willing member of a WhatsApp group offering fake services will no longer be condoned. Ignorance is not a defence.”
Oloyede also directed a message to parents and guardians: “Paying for fraud does not secure a child’s future — it destroys it. You are teaching them that deception is acceptable.”
He disclosed that some school proprietors were among those implicated and expressed confidence in JAMB’s ability to counter sophisticated fraud schemes through strengthened technical systems and collaboration with security agencies, including the DSS, Nigerian Police, and NSCDC.
“Underage candidates are also involved, often with parents paying for these services. We are appealing to the press to help educate parents and prevent introducing their children to crime,” the Registrar concluded.
The 2026 UTME registration began on January 26 and ended on February 28, with over 1.5 million candidates registered as of February 17.
