JAMB Report Reveals Thousands of AI and Biometric Cheating Cases in 2025 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has received a new report from its Special Committee on Examination Infractions (SCEIi), exposing the increasing role of technology-driven malpractice in undermining Nigeria’s tertiary admission process. The report details how organized fraud, including the use of artificial intelligence, is posing a significant threat to the integrity of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Alarming Findings from the Probe

According to the committee’s chairman, Jake Epelle, the investigation into the 2025 UTME uncovered a staggering number of offenses. The findings include:

• Over 4,250 cases of “finger blending,” a form of biometric manipulation.
• 192 instances of impersonation using AI-assisted image morphing.
• 1,878 fraudulent claims of disability to gain an unfair advantage.
• Other documented crimes, such as the use of forged credentials, multiple National Identification Number (NIN) registrations, and collusion between candidates and criminal syndicates.

Epelle lamented that these fraudulent practices have become highly organized and dangerously normalized. He noted that a wide network of individuals, including parents, tutorial centers, schools, and even some CBT operators, were complicit in the fraud. The report also pointed to weak legal frameworks as a major challenge in enforcing consequences for these offenses.

To combat this growing threat, the committee has recommended a multi-pronged approach for JAMB. The proposed reforms include the deployment of new AI-powered biometric anomaly detection tools, real-time monitoring of examination centers, and the establishment of a centralized Examination Security Operations Centre to oversee all security protocols.