In a sweeping crackdown on academic fraud, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a staggering 142 fake A-level results among applicants seeking Direct Entry admission into Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Out of 148 results submitted for verification, only six were deemed genuine, igniting shockwaves across the educational sector. This revelation, contained in JAMB’s latest weekly bulletin, underscores a troubling surge in admission fraud and highlights the critical importance of document verification in Nigeria’s higher education system.
JAMB emphasized that one of its core mandates is to safeguard the integrity of admissions by ensuring that only authentic academic credentials are accepted. The board has reiterated that institutions must rise to the occasion and intensify their internal vetting processes.
This scandal was brought to light after BUK raised alarms over a disturbing pattern of forged credentials. The university’s discovery led to a collaborative effort with JAMB, triggering the deployment of the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) — a platform launched two years ago to detect fraudulent academic records across institutions.
NIPEDS, JAMB revealed, has been instrumental in unearthing not only locally forged documents but also fake certificates from foreign institutions, which unscrupulous applicants have used to gain unfair entry into Nigerian universities.
In a recent development, 13 more fake A-level certificates were discovered across various institutions — some of which had already processed admissions for the fraudsters before the deception was caught. The board has since handed over the culprits to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
JAMB didn’t mince words in its warning: institutions that knowingly or negligently accept forged results will be seen as complicit in academic fraud and may face punitive measures.
Among the most audacious cases cited was the submission of forged Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (IJMBE) results purportedly from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria — ironically used by applicants attempting to gain admission into ABU itself.
As JAMB intensifies its war against admission malpractice, the board called for unwavering cooperation from tertiary institutions, urging them to make document verification a top priority. “The integrity of our education system is non-negotiable,” the board affirmed.
This exposé not only sends a clear message to fraudsters but also serves as a wake-up call to institutions to close every gap that enables admission racketeering.
PIONEER NEWS 