The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched a massive crackdown on a sophisticated syndicate using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The breach, which spans at least 25 states, has prompted the board to take drastic internal and legal actions to protect the integrity of the national examination system.
Internal Housecleaning and Legal Action
Following an initial probe, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, announced significant disciplinary measures:
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Dismissals: Three high-ranking JAMB officials have been recommended for immediate sack after being linked to the sabotage.
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Prosecutions: Two other officials and a staff member from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, are currently facing criminal charges for their involvement.
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School Owners: Three school proprietors are currently in custody for aiding and abetting the syndicate.
The “Underage” Factor
A major driver of this year’s malpractice appears to be the registration of underage candidates. Prof. Oloyede revealed that approximately 38,000 underage students have registered for the 2026 UTME.
Investigations found that:
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At least 100 candidates were directly assisted by the AI syndicate to bypass registration protocols.
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The Registrar blamed “willing collaborator” parents for pushing children beyond their academic capacity.
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JAMB has formally requested the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to cancel the registrations of all affected candidates.
“We are ahead of them. The only problem we have is public opinion. JAMB has the capability to deal with all those sabotaging its system.” Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar
