The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed shocking cases of malpractice in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), uncovering 4,251 instances of fingerprint manipulation and 190 cases of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted cheating.
According to the report submitted by JAMB’s Investigative Panel, the fraudulent activities were discovered during a thorough review of biometric data and examination scripts across accredited centres nationwide.
The panel disclosed that some candidates used hired agents to sit for the examination by swapping fingerprints during registration. This manipulation allowed impersonators to gain access into examination halls undetected. JAMB, however, confirmed that advanced biometric verification helped expose the culprits.
Equally troubling was the discovery of candidates using artificial intelligence tools to generate answers during the test. The report noted that 190 candidates deployed AI-powered applications hidden on smart devices to bypass examination monitoring systems.
“The sophistication of examination malpractice has reached alarming levels. From biometric fraud to AI-generated responses, it is clear that some candidates are determined to undermine the system. But with improved technology, we are identifying and blocking these acts.”, a JAMB official explained.
JAMB has vowed to sanction candidates found guilty of examination malpractice. Punishments range from cancellation of results to multi-year bans from sitting for future examinations. The Board also warned parents and guardians against aiding their children in fraudulent practices.
Despite the rising cases of malpractice, JAMB reassured Nigerians that the integrity of the 2025 UTME remains intact. The Board said it will continue to invest in advanced security systems to stay ahead of cheats.
Education experts have praised JAMB’s swift action, stressing that curbing exam fraud is critical to ensuring merit-based admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
