The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has revealed a widespread scheme in which 15,000 candidates used forged university admission letters in an attempt to gain mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Speaking at a pre-mobilisation workshop in Abuja, Oloyede announced that the board has initiated the prosecution of the perpetrators. The scandal has already led to the arrest of 17 high-ranking university officials, including Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Registrars, as well as four JAMB staff, who are now in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

A Stern Warning and a Call for Integrity

Oloyede issued a stark warning to those involved in corrupt practices, stating, “Those who want to go to jail should do so knowingly, not by accident.” He urged all stakeholders to follow established rules to eliminate self-created problems in the admission and mobilization process.

Echoing this sentiment, the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, condemned the ongoing issues of forged credentials, multiple registrations, and identity theft. He described these acts as a direct threat to the credibility of the NYSC’s mobilization process, which he stated must be protected from disrepute.

JAMB Extends Admission Deadline, Cracks Down on Rogue Schools

In a related development, JAMB has extended the 2025 admission deadline for public universities from October 31 to November 17, 2025. The board cited emerging circumstances, including a recently lifted court order and the accreditation of 229 new academic programmes, as reasons for the extension. This is stated to be the final adjustment.

Furthermore, JAMB will report six secondary schools to the Federal Ministry of Education for their involvement in “mass registration” of candidates for the UTME, a serious breach of the board’s rules. The affected schools are:

• 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
• Deeper Life High School, Onitsha

Candidates who register through such schemes risk being barred from future examinations.

JAMB Warns Against Unethical Admission Practices

JAMB also issued a public advisory, alerting candidates to unethical practices by some universities. The board alleged that certain institutions are pressuring highly-ranked candidates to change their preferred courses of study through internal portals, a maneuver designed to create space for their “preferred candidates.”

The board emphasized that all admission activities must be conducted exclusively through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Candidates are strongly advised to disregard any invitation to change programmes that comes through unofficial channels, as JAMB will not be held responsible for the consequences of such coerced decisions.