JAMB Uncovers Fake Admission Scam Flags 17,000 Students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed a large-scale admission fraud involving over 17,000 candidates who obtained fake admission letters through an underground syndicate.

This development follows a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force that led to the arrest and prosecution of five individuals believed to be the masterminds.

The fraudulent operation came to light after JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) held a press briefing in April 2024. Investigations showed that the group was creating fake JAMB admission letters for candidates willing to pay, bypassing the official Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Five suspects were arrested and are currently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Their confessions helped the board trace and flag 17,417 candidates linked to the fake documents. By May 2025, JAMB had cleared 6,903 of them after identifying minor issues that were later resolved. The remaining 10,514 were referred to police stations across the country for further investigation.

Among those still under scrutiny, 5,669 were found to have knowingly bought fake admission letters. Another 4,832 were identified as students who secured admission during a time when some institutions failed to report the admissions to JAMB but were later granted waivers by the Ministry of Education between 2017 and 2020.

The board also flagged 13 candidates who had registered in 2017, the same year CAPS was introduced. These candidates were from various institutions including Bayero University Kano, FUTA, ESUT, YABATECH, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and the University of Ilorin. At a meeting on July 5, 2025, JAMB decided they would be allowed to correct their records and receive new admission letters.

In addition, 1,532 students who said they were unaware that their admissions were facilitated by the syndicate have now been cleared, as their schools have properly documented the admissions through the required condonement procedures.

JAMB also reported that 3,300 students are still under investigation for gaining admission through unapproved means. The board maintained that anyone found guilty—whether a student, parent, or mentor—would be prosecuted under the Examination Malpractices Act, regardless of age.

JAMB reiterated its commitment to clean and transparent admissions and warned that it would continue to track and punish those involved in fraud, no matter how long it takes.