Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed widespread technological malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), prompting calls for criminal prosecution and systemic reforms.

According to its Special Committee on Examination Infractions (SCEIi), over 4,000 cases of biometric and AI-assisted fraud were uncovered, with several computer-based test (CBT) centres implicated.

Presenting the findings in Abuja, committee chairman Jake Epelle disclosed that investigators documented 4,251 cases of “finger blending”—a technique used to manipulate fingerprint recognition—and 192 instances of AI-assisted impersonation through image morphing. Additional infractions included 1,878 false disability claims, forged credentials, multiple National Identification Number (NIN) registrations, and collusion between candidates and examination syndicates.

Epelle stated that culpable CBT centres would be shut down, their equipment confiscated, and owners prosecuted. “A lot of CBT centres are going to be shut down, their equipment taken from them, and the owners end up in jail,” he said during an interview on Channels Television.

The committee attributed 80% of the infractions to parents seeking unfair advantages for their children. Epelle urged JAMB to publicly identify such individuals, noting that many later plead for leniency after initially threatening legal action. Schools and tutorial centres were also found to be complicit.

Despite the scale of fraud, JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede clarified that actual malpractice during the exam remained relatively low, with 140 confirmed cases. He emphasized that the agency’s systems were not compromised, but acknowledged the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated technology.

The committee recommended a multi-pronged response, including the deployment of AI-powered biometric anomaly tools, real-time monitoring, and the creation of a central Examination Security Operations Centre. These measures aim to strengthen JAMB’s ability to detect and deter future infractions.

The revelations come amid public outrage over low scores in the 2025 UTME. JAMB admitted that a technical glitch affected 157 of the 887 exam centres, impacting candidate performance. As a result, 379,997 candidates are scheduled to retake the examination starting May 16.

A statistical breakdown showed that 78.5% of the 1.95 million candidates scored below 200. Only 0.63% scored 300 and above, while 50.29% fell within the 160–199 range.

JAMB has dismissed claims of regional bias and pledged to uphold transparency and fairness in its processes. The agency continues to review its systems and policies in response to the committee’s findings.