The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced strong punishments for 11 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and some candidates found guilty of fingerprint cheating during registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, shared this on Tuesday in Abuja after a meeting with the affected centres and candidates. His speech was delivered by the board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Oloyede said the recommendations still need the approval of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, but were necessary to protect the integrity of the examination.
“We are recommending that any registrant who helped more than 50 candidates commit fingerprint fraud should be banned from all JAMB activities for three years. This includes registering for UTME as a student or working with any exam body like WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB,” Oloyede said.
He added that after three years, JAMB will review each case and may lift the ban if the person shows remorse.
“For those involved in less than 50 cases, they will get a warning. They must write a letter of apology and sign a bond not to repeat the offense,” he said.
He warned CBT centres that JAMB would no longer tolerate excuses. “Any CBT centre found guilty must train its staff in ethical standards at the nearest federal university and show proof before being allowed to work with us again,” Oloyede explained.
He said that government-owned centres involved in the fraud would be reported to the relevant authorities.
Earlier, some CBT operators and candidates admitted they helped others use fake fingerprints during registration. Many said they didn’t know it was wrong or were trying to help people complete their registration faster.
They pleaded with JAMB for forgiveness.
One of the stakeholders at the meeting, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, said the fraud was serious enough to lead to arrest and jail. But he asked JAMB to forgive the offenders this time if they promise never to repeat it.
Also speaking at the meeting, Bashir Gumel, a representative from Jicoras CBT Centre in Jigawa State, said they had started investigating their staff.
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Gumel said, “We have questioned all those involved and they confessed. We will take action and share our findings with JAMB. This is our first time and we were unaware of such issues. We promise it will never happen again.”
The affected CBT centres include:
- Misau Emirate ICT Centre, Bauchi
- Ijaw National Academy, Bayelsa
- Directorate of ICT, Nigerian Army University, Gombe
- Emerald IT Academy, Edo
- Tigh Technologies, Sascon International School, Abuja
- Jicoras CBT Centre, Jigawa
- Huntsville Technology Limited, Lagos
- Jolas College CBT Centre, Lagos
- Abdul Ocean Weath CBT Centre, Oyo
- National Open University of Nigeria CBT Centre, Platea
- Consulate Salle D’Examen CBT Centre, Rivers
JAMB had earlier apologised after nearly 380,000 candidates in Lagos and Southeast states faced registration issues due to fingerprint errors or system glitches. The board says it is now taking steps to ensure such problems do not happen again.