JAMB panel uncovers over 6,000 AI, biometric malpractices

JAMB panel uncovers over 6,000 AI, biometric malpractices

The Special Committee on Examination Infractions set up by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered more than 6,000 cases of technology-enabled malpractices in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The committee’s chairman, Dr. Jake Epelle, disclosed the findings while presenting its report in Abuja on Monday.Epelle revealed that 1,878 candidates falsely claimed to be albinos, while others engaged in biometric fraud and digital identity manipulation during the conduct of the examination.The panel also recorded multiple cases of fake National Identification Numbers, credential forgery, and syndicate-backed fraud schemes.

According to him, examination malpractice has now become “a highly organised, technology-driven, and culturally normalised enterprise.”He gave a breakdown of the infractions, noting: “We documented 4,251 cases of ‘finger blending’, 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, 1,878 false declarations of albinism, and numerous cases of credential forgery, multiple NIN registrations, and solicitation schemes. This fraud is not the work of candidates alone it is sustained by syndicates involving some CBT centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and even technical accomplices.”The committee further warned that existing legal frameworks remain inadequate to address the growing threat of biometric and digital fraud, stressing that public trust in the examination system is already being eroded.In its recommendations, the panel urged JAMB to “deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, real-time monitoring, and a National Examination Security Operations Centre.”

It also called for the board to “cancel results of confirmed fraudulent candidates, impose bans of 1–3 years, prosecute both candidates and their collaborators, and create a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to institutions and employers.”The report further advised JAMB to “strengthen mobile-first self-service platforms, digitise correction workflows, tighten disability verification, and ban bulk school-led registrations.” It also urged legal reform, recommending amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act “to recognise biometric and digital fraud, and provide for a Legal Unit within JAMB.”

JAMB inaugurated the Special Committee on August 18 with a mandate to investigate, review and recommend measures to curb the rising wave of technologically enabled examination malpractice.