By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has issued a stark warning to candidates and parents involved in examination malpractice, declaring that the era of treating such offenders as victims is over. He described the growing trend of fraud as a “grave and disturbing development” that undermines the very foundation of Nigeria’s educational system.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Professor Oloyede stated that the Board convened to confront activities he said “strike at the heart of fairness, merit, and integrity in the Nigerian educational system.”
“Over the years, the Board has invested heavily—financially, technologically, and institutionally—to safeguard the credibility of the UTME,” Oloyede said. “These efforts are not optional. They are necessary to protect millions of honest candidates whose only crime is believing that hard work still matters.”
The Registrar revealed that recent investigations had uncovered sophisticated criminal syndicates leveraging artificial intelligence to impersonate JAMB officials and defraud unsuspecting candidates. However, he placed significant blame on the candidates and their guardians, asserting they are far from innocent victims.
“What is important for us to emphasise here is that the students themselves and their parents are willing collaborators and cannot be regarded as innocent,” Oloyede stated firmly.
He disclosed that over 100 candidates have been implicated in the fraudulent activities, with 83 confirmed to have made payments to the syndicates. These candidates span across 25 states, indicating, as Oloyede noted, that “it is not peculiar to a particular part of the country. It is evenly distributed.”
The Registrar announced that the Board is compiling a comprehensive report for the Minister of Education, with the ultimate goal of canceling the registrations of all implicated candidates. “All those who subscribed, who paid to be assisted—we are making appropriate recommendations to the authorities, particularly to the Minister of Education, so that we can cancel all the registrations,” he said.
In a bid to correct misinformation, Oloyede dismissed rumours of an increase in JAMB registration fees. “Some even said we increased our fee, which is not true. Totally untrue,” he clarified. He urged the public to report any centre charging more than the previous year’s rate, promising swift action from the Board.
He also confirmed that some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found to be complicit in the malpractice have already been sanctioned. “Two or three of them, we have brought them this morning, and we have suspended their participation,” the Registrar revealed.
Rejecting any suggestion of leniency or negotiation with offenders, Professor Oloyede drew a firm line. “How do you monitor this type of thing? How do you negotiate with criminals? It is like saying we should continue to use fake drugs because there are no genuine drugs,” he argued.
He revealed that some suspects who fled the country after last year’s examination cycle were now attempting to initiate negotiations. Their appeals were flatly rejected. “They should come through the normal process. We will refer them to the security agencies, and if they clear them, that is their problem. Why should we now go and be negotiating with criminals?” the registrar questioned.
Professor Oloyede issued a clear and direct warning to all Nigerians, emphasising that ignorance will no longer be tolerated as an excuse.
“Let it be clearly understood by all Nigerians that paying for examination fraud is a crime. Receiving illegal assistance is a punishable offence. Being a willing member of a WhatsApp group where these fake services are offered will no longer be condoned. Ignorance will not be accepted as a defence,” he advised.
He directed a pointed message to parents and guardians, urging them to reconsider their role in their children’s academic pursuits.
“Parents must understand that paying for fraud does not secure a child’s future. It destroys it. You are teaching them that cheating is a strategy, that deception is acceptable, and that merit is optional,” he said. He further disclosed that some school proprietors were among those arrested in connection with the fraud.
Despite the growing sophistication of the schemes, Oloyede expressed strong confidence in JAMB’s systems and its collaborative efforts with security agencies to stay ahead of the criminals.
He acknowledged the support of key partners, stating, “I want to thank the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Directorate of State Services, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their cooperation.”
