This statement came after the presentation of a report by JAMB’s Special Committee on Examination Infractions, which was delivered in Abuja on Monday to Registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede by the committee's chairman, Dr. Jake Epelle.

Dr. Epelle stated that the committee found 4,251 cases of "finger blending" and 190 cases of AI-assisted impersonation through image morphing during their investigation into the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Established on August 18, 2025, the committee was tasked with examining the rise in examination irregularities, evaluating JAMB’s systems, and suggesting reforms.

Epelle characterized the committee's mission as "a moral obligation, a national service, and a battle for the essence of meritocracy in Nigeria," explaining that the findings extended beyond mere technical issues, highlighting that malpractice has become increasingly organized, technology-driven, and alarmingly accepted.

Other infractions identified included 1,878 fraudulent disability claims, forged documents, multiple registrations of National Identification Numbers, and collusion between candidates and criminal groups.

Epelle pointed out that various stakeholders including parents, tutorial centers, schools, and some Computer-Based Test (CBT) operators were involved, while ineffective legal frameworks hindered proper enforcement. To reclaim credibility, the committee suggested a multi-faceted approach.

The committee proposed the use of AI-based biometric anomaly detection tools, real-time monitoring, and a centralized Examination Security Operations Centre, along with the annulment of fraudulent results, imposing sanctions ranging from one to three-year bans, prosecuting violators, and establishing a Central Sanctions Registry for institutions and employers. Additionally, they recommended measures to prevent such issues, including digitizing correction processes, enhancing disability verification, improving mobile-first platforms, and prohibiting bulk registrations initiated by schools.

The panel also urged for legal reforms, including changes to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to encompass biometric and digital fraud, along with establishing a Legal Unit within JAMB.

To promote values, it suggested a nationwide Integrity First campaign aimed at cultural reorientation, integrating ethics into school curricula, and holding parents accountable for facilitating malpractice.

For those under 18 who offend, the committee recommended rehabilitative actions under the Child Rights Act, such as counseling and supervised reintegration, instead of punitive measures. Epelle cautioned that without immediate reforms, the credibility of Nigeria's educational system could deteriorate even further.

He warned, "If left unaddressed, examination malpractice will persist in undermining merit, eroding public trust, and jeopardizing the fundamental basis of Nigeria’s education and human capital development."