Data published by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board at its 2025 policy meeting on Tuesday has uncovered fingerprint fraud in 19 Computer-Based Test centres across the country.
According to the board, CBT centres in Imo and Anambra states were at the top of the list for this type of malpractice.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, noted this while speaking to vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and other key stakeholders at a gathering held in Abuja.
He explained that Anambra state had six centres involved in these illegal acts, while Imo followed closely with four. Other affected states include Abia, Edo, Kano, Ebonyi, Delta, Kaduna, Rivers and Enugu.
Kano was reported to have two centres, while the remaining states each had one.
Prof Oloyede also pointed out other troubling methods some candidates used to cheat the system. These included the use of albinos for what he described as “image-bending” and remote uploads to manipulate exam records.
In a related incident, two individuals have been brought before the Federal High Court in Katsina over alleged impersonation and exam malpractice.
Police prosecutor Abdussalam Danmaidaki shared that the accused persons, Bolanwu Emmanuel and Ibrahim Abdulaziz, committed the offence on April 30 at Zee Alpha International School in Funtua.
According to Danmaidaki, “Emmanuel invited Abdulaziz into the exam hall to impersonate him and sit the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on his behalf with registration number: 2025515278JA.” He added that Abdulaziz also “unlawfully and fraudulently presented himself as a UTME candidate and wrote the said exam under the same name of Emmanuel with registration number: 2025515278JA.”
The prosecutor explained that the offences fall under sections 4(2)(a) and (b), and 4(3)(c) as well as sections 3(1)(a) and (b), and 3(2)(c) of the Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Danmaidaki then asked the court for more time to bring forward witnesses to support the case. Presiding judge, Justice Hussaini Dadan-Garba, agreed and adjourned the trial to July 18 for the continuation of proceedings and the presentation of evidence.
