The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered 192 AI cheats and 4,251 cases of finger blending in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The development follows a recent attempt by the board to expose high-tech malpractices and how fraud continues to undermine the Nigerian admission process.

JAMB’s Special Committee on Examination Infractions (SCEI) has described the current status of examination malpractices as technology-driven and dangerously orchestrated, noting that it could hinder Nigeria’s education credibility. The committee also noted that some Computer-Based Test operators (CBT) are at the helm of these fraudulent activities. 

Providing more details, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Jake Epele, aside from the 192 cases of AI-assisted impersonation through image morphing and the 4,251 incidents of finger blending detected during investigations, the system also detected 1,878 cases of false disability claims, where candidates used such claims to receive unmerited special treatment.

While expressing his concerns, Dr. Epele said parents, tutorial centres, and schools collaborate to carry out these fraudulent activities. He also decried the weakness of legal frameworks that make appropriate prosecution difficult. 

The chairman noted that they also uncovered cases where candidates used forged credentials, multiple National Identification Number (NIN) registrations, and collusion between candidates and examination syndicates. He noted that this new wave is a challenge for JAMB and a threat to the integrity of the nation’s admission process.

In its efforts to curb rising cases of exam fraud, JAMB inaugurated a 23-member special committee to investigate cases of technology-driven malpractice detected during the 2025 UTME. The board has earlier revealed that the results of 6,458 candidates remain under investigation for alleged involvement in high-tech cheating.

The disciplinary committee handled extraordinary cases such as image blending, albinism falsification, finger pairing, and attempts to breach the Local Area.

Members of the committee are Dr. Jake Epele, the Chairman, Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu. Others are retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Dr. Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students. 

Also Read: JAMB reports 6,458 cases of ‘high tech’ cheating, sets up investigative committee.

JAMB 2025 and high-tech malpractices, what next?

Last month, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed that 6,458 results in UTME 2025 were flagged for malpractices carried out with high technology. Recounting the incident, he decried the transition of examination malpractice from traditional schemes to technology-based methods. 

“This year we came across several strange things, and we felt that it would be better if we expand our resources. And we believe that God has endowed this nation with a lot of resources that we can tap from,” Oloyede said last month.

The development has further exposed the underbelly of technology-driven examinations, such as the CBT mode. While the medium aligns with modern and international practices, it poses a challenge of undermining the credibility of the admission process with numerous forms of tech-driven malpractices. 

Compared to the 2,244 candidates who got involved in traditional examination misconduct and impersonation, 6,458 used tech for their own examination manipulation. This new wave calls for urgent intervention from affected stakeholders and the introduction of measures to clamp down on these activities. 

In its report, the disciplinary committee urged JAMB to adopt a multi-pronged approach in tackling the malaise. This includes improving infrastructure for better security and using reliable experts and external parties to accredit and monitor CBT centres.

The committee emphasised deploying AI-powered biometric anomaly tools and implementing real-time monitoring of all examinations. Per its recommendations, the board is expected to create a central Examination Security Operations Centre that coordinates and responds to all forms of threats.