The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released new details on its crackdown against a fraudulent admission scheme, exposing more than 17,000 candidates linked to the scam.
In an official statement by JAMB's Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board revealed that the discovery came after a collaborative press briefing with the Nigeria Police Force on April 13, 2024. The operation uncovered a criminal network producing fake JAMB admission letters for students in exchange for payment.
Authorities, with support from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), dismantled the syndicate and arrested five key suspects. The individuals have admitted to creating counterfeit admission documents and are now being prosecuted in a case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Investigations identified 17,417 candidates who benefited from the fraudulent scheme. By May 2025, 6,903 had their cases resolved after correcting minor errors in their records. However, 10,514 candidates remain under investigation, with their cases forwarded to police units nationwide.
Among those still being probed, 5,669 knowingly obtained fake admission letters, while 4,832 were students whose admissions were not initially processed through JAMB but were later approved by their institutions under a 2017–2020 waiver. These candidates reportedly avoided official procedures and sought the syndicate's services prematurely.
Additionally, 13 candidates were flagged for administrative discrepancies, with 12 having registered in 2017—the year JAMB introduced its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). The affected students are from institutions such as Bayero University Kano, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Yaba College of Technology, and the University of Ilorin, among others.
At a recent board meeting, JAMB decided that the 13 candidates with minor issues could correct their records and reprint their admission letters, as they fall under the previously resolved cases.
Meanwhile, 1,532 candidates who claimed unawareness of the syndicate’s role in their admissions were issued warnings after their schools completed necessary regularization steps.
As of the latest update, 3,300 candidates are still under review for securing admissions through questionable means.
JAMB reaffirmed its strict stance against illegal admissions, warning that underage candidates, as well as complicit parents or guardians, will face legal action.
"The Board’s verification processes remain ongoing, and anyone found guilty of fraud, including exam malpractice or falsified admissions, will be prosecuted under the Examination Malpractices Act, with penalties applicable even to minors and their guardians," JAMB stated.
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