Anambra and Lagos lead in exam malpractices

Monday, May 12, 2025 - Anambra and Lagos states have emerged as the top offenders in cases of examination malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, according to data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. 

A total of 80 suspects are currently being interrogated by the police nationwide, with Anambra accounting for 14 of them. The suspects from the state were arrested in connection with 13 cases of impersonation and one incident involving a picture mismatch. Lagos follows with nine arrests related to impersonation, spying, and the possession of mobile phones.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed these figures during a press briefing held at the board's headquarters in Abuja on Friday. He noted that the board had detected new and increasingly sophisticated forms of examination fraud, not just during the UTME itself but also in the registration process. These included identity and biometric frauds, such as the use of combined thumbprints between candidates and impersonators, often facilitated with the assistance of compromised Computer-Based Test centres. Other tactics included double registrations and attempts by candidates to substitute themselves with another person.

Oloyede also cited Delta, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Ebonyi, and Enugu as other states with notable arrests. Delta recorded eight suspects for impersonation, while Kano had seven linked to impersonation and illegal possession of mobile phones. Kaduna had six suspects for similar offences. Rivers also had six individuals arrested for impersonation and for being caught with mobile phones and calculators. Ebonyi and Enugu each recorded five impersonation cases.

In a particularly striking case, Oloyede reported that a blind candidate had hired another blind man, who is already an undergraduate, to impersonate him and sit the UTME.

The results of the 2025 UTME were officially released on Friday. JAMB revealed that out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam, over 1.5 million scored below 200 marks, which is considered an average performance threshold. The UTME is scored over 400 and tests candidates in four core subjects, with the Use of English being compulsory and the remaining three subjects chosen based on the candidate’s desired field of study.