By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the withholding of 96 results from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to examination infractions—representing a decrease from 123 withheld results in the previous year.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known during a press conference in Bwari on Friday while officially releasing the results.
Oloyede stated that although several results remain under investigation, the Board remains firm in its resolve to eliminate examination malpractice in all its forms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 2,030,862 candidates registered for the 2025 UTME, which was conducted across 882 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
According to the Registrar, 1,957,000 candidates were verified to have sat the examination, while 71,705 were absent.
He noted that results for 1,911,551 candidates had been released, with 39,834 still undergoing scrutiny and 1,426 cases under active investigation.
Oloyede also revealed that 2,157 candidates experienced fingerprint rejections due to suspected registration infractions—figures he described as significantly above acceptable limits.
He said, “The 2025 UTME showed the prevalence of some particular types of infractions, which suggests systemic vulnerabilities or gaps in registration and examination administration or/and monitoring.
“The new trends observed were in the Registration and Examination processes and they were mainly in the following categories: Identity Fraud, and Biometric Fraud of Combined Thumbprint of Candidate.”
Other infractions, according to him, included impersonation during registration—often with the active involvement of certain CBT centres—double registration, and attempted substitution of candidates.
Oloyede disclosed that 244 candidates were caught engaging in “WhatsApp runs,” subscribing to rogue groups that promised leaked questions. He said their results had been withheld to serve as a deterrent.
“In some cases, the entire syndicates colluded with CBT centres to register using multiple fingerprints,” he added.
He further explained that 3,656 candidates with “extraneous fingerprints” had their results withheld, and implicated CBT centres would face sanctions.
The affected centres include: Tigh Technologies Limited, Abuja, Sascon International School, Maitama, Abuja, Wudil Computer Information Technology, Wudil, Kano State and Penta M &Amp; Centre 2, Tambuwal LGA, Sokoto State
Oloyede said 80 suspects were currently being interrogated by the police for their involvement in examination malpractices, with most expected to face prosecution.
“The Board has identified the presence of extraneous fingers in the registration details of some of these candidates. This raises concerns regarding potential strategies for impersonation.
“A total of 3,656 candidates fall within this category. Consequently, the results of the candidates have been withheld.”
Speaking on underage candidates, the Registrar explained that following the Ministry of Education’s directive enforcing a minimum age of 16, an exception was granted to “exceptionally gifted” students.
Of the 41,027 underage candidates who registered, only 467 met the high-performance criteria, with one disqualified due to examination malpractice.
Oloyede also reiterated the Board’s commitment to inclusivity, saying 501 candidates with disabilities were successfully examined through the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) across 11 centres nationwide.
He added that the results for these candidates were also being released, though one was involved in impersonation.
Due to technical deficiencies and substandard performance, four CBT centres were delisted and blacklisted. These include: Adventure Associate, Behind Sheshe Supermarket, Kano, Sadat Rimi College of Education, Zaria, Soronara Ventures Nigeria Limited, Foundation Road, Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli, Imo State and HSS Amazing, Holy Saviour School, 30/32 Old Ota Road, Adeleye, Aparadija, Isunba, Lafenwa, Itele, Ogun State.
He noted that a detailed list of centres blacklisted for fraudulent activities would soon be published.
Despite the challenges, Oloyede described the 2025 UTME as one of the most successful in recent years.
He reaffirmed the Board’s zero-tolerance policy on malpractice and pledged continued innovation to uphold the integrity of public examinations.
