Anambra, Lagos Lead in 2025 UTME Malpractices as JAMB Uncovers Sophisticated Fraud Tactics
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that Anambra and Lagos States recorded the highest number of arrests for examination malpractices during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, revealed that 80 suspects are currently under police investigation for various offences related to exam fraud.
He noted that the Board discovered new and increasingly advanced forms of cheating during both the registration and examination stages. These include identity fraud, biometric data manipulation, combined thumbprints from both candidates and impersonators, double registrations, and attempts to substitute original candidates.
Anambra topped the list with 14 suspects — 13 for impersonation and one for a mismatched photograph. Lagos followed with 9 individuals apprehended for impersonation, spying, and unauthorized possession of mobile phones.
Other states with notable arrests include:
- Delta State – 8 suspects (impersonation)
- Kano State – 7 suspects (impersonation and mobile phone possession)
- Kaduna State – 6 suspects (impersonation and mobile phone use)
- Rivers State – 6 suspects (impersonation, mobile phones, calculators)
- Ebonyi & Enugu States – 5 suspects each (impersonation)
In a particularly bizarre incident, a blind candidate reportedly paid another blind undergraduate to impersonate him during the UTME.
“These evolving cheating techniques demand swift and unified action from Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and parents,” Prof. Oloyede stressed.
This development comes shortly after JAMB released the official 2025 UTME results, in which over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400 marks.
Each UTME candidate sat for four subjects — English (compulsory) and three others based on their preferred field of study.
