17 Deputy Vice Chancellors, Registrars, and JAMB Staff in ICPC Custody
Board Extends Admission Deadline for Public Universities, Flags Six Schools for Irregular UTME Registrations
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has revealed that about 15,000 candidates forged admission letters in order to qualify for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Speaking at the 2025 Batch C Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, Oloyede disclosed that the board had already begun prosecuting the offenders for document forgery.
According to him, 17 deputy vice chancellors, deputy registrars, and four JAMB staff membersare currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over their alleged roles in the scandal.
“One day, I rushed to the NYSC because I couldn’t believe that 15,000 candidates forged admission letters,” Oloyede said. “As we speak, some deputy registrars and deputy vice chancellors, no fewer than 17 of them alongside four JAMB staff, are in ICPC custody. Anyone who chooses to go to jail should do so knowingly, not by accident.”
He urged universities and officials involved in the mobilisation process to adhere strictly to regulations to avoid unnecessary complications.
NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, warned that cases of forged certificates, multiple registrations, and identity theft remain a major threat to the credibility of the mobilisation process.
“Mobilising eligible Nigerian graduates for national service is central to our mandate,” he said. “This key process cannot be allowed to lose integrity. Over the years, NYSC has earned public trust through transparent operations, from the analogue era to our now nearly fully digitised system.”
NYSC’s Director of Corps Mobilisation, Rachel Idaewor, noted that the scheme has made significant progress in recent years through innovation and cooperation among stakeholders. However, she said, data integrity issues still threaten the credibility of the mobilisation process.
Idaewor added: “The integrity of our data is not just a technical challenge; it has far-reaching implications for the personal and professional futures of our youth. Accurate, reliable data forms the backbone of any successful operational strategy, enabling us to effectively mobilise our youth for national service.”
Also JAMB has extended the 2025/2026 admission deadline for public universities from October 31 to November 17.
According to the board’s weekly bulletin, the decision followed appeals from the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) and adjustments caused by new programme accreditations.
“This extension is to ensure that no institution or candidate is unfairly disadvantaged,” the board said. “However, this is the final adjustment, and all institutions must conclude their admissions within the new timeframe.”
The extension also allows universities to process admissions into 229 newly accredited programmesacross 37 institutions, approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on October 29 as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to higher education.
JAMB announced that it will report six secondary schools to the Federal Ministry of Education for conducting irregular mass registrations during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The affected schools include Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha; St. Maria Goretti Girls Secondary School, Nkwerre-Orlu; Finek Group of Schools, Aba; Susu College, Nkpor; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Secondary School, Awka; and Deeper Life High School, Onitsha.
The board said the schools were involved in “mass registration” of candidates, an act it described as a serious breach of its operational rules.
It reiterated that UTME registration must be done individually at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres to ensure data integrity. JAMB warned that candidates from schools found guilty of such practices would be barred from the 2026 UTME
“Candidates are strongly advised to complete their registration personally at any of the board’s accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the country,” JAMB stated.
“This measure is aimed at protecting the integrity of candidates’ data and ensuring that all personal details are accurately recorded in the board’s database.
“JAMB remains firmly committed to upholding the credibility, transparency, and integrity of its examination processes and will continue to take firm action against any institution or individual that attempts to compromise these standards,” the statement added
JAMB has also cautioned candidates seeking admission to ignore any invitations or requests to change their programmes through institutional portals or other unofficial channels.
The advisory was issued in a statement by the board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on Monday in Abuja.
According to JAMB, some institutions have been using their internal portals to pressure highly ranked candidates on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to switch from their preferred courses to less competitive ones.
“This unethical act undermines the fairness and transparency that guide the nation’s admission process,” the statement said.
The board reminded all candidates and institutions that every admission process in Nigeria must be conducted exclusively through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) a platform established to guarantee accountability, transparency, and equal opportunity.
“Any admission activity or programme change carried out outside CAPS is unauthorised, unethical, and ultimately harmful to the affected candidates,” it added.
JAMB further condemned institutions engaging in backdoor manoeuvres, describing such actions as attempts to deceive and shortchange candidates, and warned that the board would not tolerate such practices.
It advised candidates to ignore any invitation or request to change programmes through institutional portals or unofficial channels.
“Any change of programme later reflected on CAPS after a candidate has been influenced or persuaded by an institution will be considered voluntary,” the board cautioned. “In such cases, JAMB will not be held responsible for the consequences of that decision.”
The board disclosed that a university in the South-West and another in Abuja had been identified in its preliminary investigations as being involved in these acts. It said regulatory steps have already been taken to address the violations and protect the interests of affected candidates.
“Candidates are therefore urged to remain vigilant and conduct all admission-related activities strictly through the JAMB CAPS portal. The Board reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all qualified candidates are treated with fairness, equity, and transparency in the 2025 admission exercise and beyond.”
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