JAMB summons 94 candidates and institutions over registration fraud and fake certificates

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially summoned 94 candidates and several tertiary institutions to appear before virtual investigative panels starting today, March 18, 2026. This urgent call follows allegations of examination registration malpractice and the submission of fraudulent certificates during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) registration process. The board has made it clear that any candidate who fails to attend their scheduled session will be viewed as having admitted to the charges of seeking illicit assistance.

In a statement released via its official channels, JAMB revealed that the affected candidates were identified after investigations into solicitations for illegal help with the registration exercise. Access passcodes for the virtual hearings have already been sent to the registered phone numbers of those involved. This move is part of a broader crackdown by the board to protect the integrity of the Nigerian education system and ensure that only deserving students gain admission into higher institutions based on merit.

Beyond individual students, the examination body has also turned its attention to 43 tertiary institutions, including various universities and polytechnics. These schools are being questioned after some Direct Entry applicants submitted A level certificates that the institutions themselves later flagged as unverifiable or outright fakes. By bringing the heads of these institutions into the investigation, JAMB aims to close the loopholes that allow academic racketeering to thrive within the country's admissions landscape.

This development comes at a critical time as JAMB recently announced that over 2.2 million candidates have successfully registered for the 2026 UTME, with examinations scheduled to begin on April 16th. The Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, warned that the board is using advanced technology and internal audits to root out organized criminal syndicates. For students across Nigeria, this serves as a firm reminder that following official procedures is the only safe way to secure their academic future.