Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that Anambra and Lagos states have the highest number of individuals among the 80 suspects currently being investigated by the police for their involvement in malpractices during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
During a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated that new methods of exam fraud were detected during the registration and examination processes.
These methods included identity and biometric fraud involving the combination of thumbprints of candidates and impersonators at registration points, often with the collaboration of some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers.
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Other observed malpractices were double registration and attempts by candidates to have impersonators take the exam for them.
According to the data provided, Anambra state had the highest number of suspects with 14 arrests related to 13 cases of impersonation and one instance of a mismatched photograph.
Lagos state followed with nine suspects arrested for impersonation, spying, and possession of mobile phones during the examination.
Other states with a significant number of arrests include Delta, with eight suspects for impersonation; Kano, with seven suspects for impersonation and possession of mobile phones; and Kaduna, with six suspects for impersonation and possession of mobile phones.
Additionally, six suspects were arrested in Rivers state for impersonation and possession of prohibited items like mobile phones and calculators, while Ebonyi and Enugu states each had five suspects arrested for impersonation.
Prof. Oloyede also disclosed an unusual case where a blind candidate hired another blind individual, who was an undergraduate, to impersonate him and sit for the 2025 UTME.
The results of the 2025 UTME were officially released on Friday, revealing that over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates who participated in the exam scored below 200, which is considered the average benchmark out of a total of 400 marks.
The UTME assesses candidates in four subjects, including the mandatory Use of English and three other subjects relevant to their chosen field of study.
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