The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised fresh concerns over widespread admission fraud after revealing that 96% of A-level results submitted to Bayero University, Kano (BUK) for 2024 Direct Entry admission were forged.
According to details published in JAMB’s official weekly bulletin, out of 148 A-level certificates presented to the university for verification, only six were confirmed to be genuine, while a staggering 142 were fake.
JAMB Flags Growing Use of Forged Credentials
The shocking discovery was made during a routine screening process and has sparked serious concerns about the integrity of the Direct Entry admission system. JAMB said the fraudulent results were detected through its central verification platform, the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS).
JAMB established NIPEDS two years ago to combat the increasing use of fake A-level certificates, including those from foreign institutions. The system has since become a critical tool for identifying candidates attempting to gain admission through dishonest means.
Institutions Urged to Strengthen Internal Verification
Following this latest development, JAMB has urged all tertiary institutions across the country to independently verify documents submitted by applicants. While NIPEDS plays a vital role, JAMB emphasized that universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education should not rely solely on the platform, but must carry out internal verification checks to avoid admitting unqualified candidates.
The board also issued a warning to institutions that knowingly or carelessly accept fake credentials, stressing that such schools may be considered complicit in admission fraud and held accountable.
More Cases Detected, Some Already Admitted
JAMB disclosed that in addition to the cases at BUK, 13 other fake A-level certificates were recently flagged across other institutions. Alarmingly, some of the affected candidates had already been offered admission before their credentials were found to be fraudulent.
In one particularly troubling case, fake IJMBE results from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria were submitted by multiple candidates hoping to gain admission into ABU itself. These incidents point to a growing trend of organized academic fraud targeting the Direct Entry route.
Law Enforcement Involved
All candidates found to have submitted forged certificates have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution. JAMB reaffirmed that it will continue to work closely with security agencies and higher institutions to sanitize the admission process and ensure that only qualified and deserving candidates are admitted based on merit.
Final Warning and JAMB’s Position
The board reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for forgery and stressed that candidates with questionable credentials should withdraw voluntarily to avoid legal consequences. JAMB also confirmed that it is expanding its investigations to review admissions already granted in previous years that may have been based on fake documents.
This latest discovery underscores JAMB’s ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s admission process and protect the credibility of the country’s higher education system.
For trusted updates on Direct Entry, JAMB 2025, and admission guidelines, visit jamb2025.com.