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Drama Unfolds as JAMB Accuses UTME 2025 Top Scorer of Cheating!

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is under fire after it alleged that Chinedu Okeke, the highest scorer in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), engaged in wrongdoing.

Mr. Okeke, who has applied to study mechanical engineering at the University of Lagos, achieved a score of 375 out of a possible 400 in the computer-based test.

Is-haq Oloyede, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Registrar, implied that there was foul play since Mr. Okeke was already registered as a fourth-year student in medicine and surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Professor Oloyede stated that the board contacted the university, which confirmed that Mr. Okeke is still enrolled and performing well.

Nonetheless, social media users have accused the board of unfairly targeting the candidate.

For example, Alex Onyia, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Educare, a school software solution provider, noted that the candidate is from Anambra State and had filled out his JAMB profile correctly.

Mr. Onyia, who claimed to have spoken with the candidate’s parents, asserted that the issue arose after JAMB mistakenly incorporated incorrect data from the National Identity Number (NIN) system that was reflected in his 2021 JAMB slip.

Since 2021, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has required the use of NIN for candidates’ registration to facilitate data migration, ensure consistency, and enable smooth integration.

“Chinedu’s NIN data has been corrected and submitted to JAMB as a data correction in 2021. This can be verified on his profile page,” Mr. Onyia stated.

JAMB’s Response

However, JAMB insists that it operates based on ‘facts and data,’ indicating that the information it possesses differs from what is being suggested on social media.

In a statement from its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB indicated that the candidate’s NIN records show he is from Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State, where he took the 2021 UTME.

“Firstly, it is incorrect to claim that Chinedu Okeke is from Anambra State,” JAMB stated.

According to JAMB, Mr. Okeke gained admission to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study medicine and surgery in 2021, where he remains a fourth-year student.

JAMB also mentioned that a review of the student’s records at UNN currently aligns with the information it holds.

The board stated that once it receives confirmation that Mr. Okeke is no longer enrolled at UNN, it will promptly inform the Medical and Dental Council to consider his delisting.

“Until then, the board will continue to treat Chinedu with the respect he deserves as a legitimate student of one of Nigeria’s higher education institutions,” the board affirmed.

JAMB pointed out that the discrepancies in the candidate’s details have raised ‘serious questions.’

The board clarified that candidates’ identities are verified with their NIN through a collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“We do not alter or add to the information provided by candidates; therefore, there should be no disputes concerning their identities,” the board clarified.

“The claim that JAMB retrieved incorrect information for Chinedu from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in 2021 is false, intended to create a justification for his situation.

“Evidence indicates that Chinedu modified his records as submitted in 2021 before registering for the 2025 UTME, a fact corroborated by his supporters.”