The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stirred controversy after accusing the highest scorer of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Chinedu Okeke, of identity manipulation and record tampering to gain multiple admissions across Nigerian universities.
In a strongly worded statement issued by JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the examination body said the unfolding saga surrounding Okeke exposes a disturbing pattern of deceit and manipulation disguised under social media sympathy.
JAMB asserted that contrary to widespread claims, Okeke is not from Anambra State as popularly reported, but rather from Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area in Lagos State. According to the Board, he used his Lagos identity during his 2021 UTME registration, which led to his admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to study Medicine and Surgery, where he is currently in his fourth year.
“What kind of institution would JAMB be if it did not maintain accurate records to verify candidates’ claims?” Benjamin asked. “All data shows that Chinedu is from Lagos State and not Anambra. He filled these details himself in 2021 and gained admission to UNN based on this.”
JAMB raised alarm over Okeke’s sudden reappearance in 2025 UTME records—this time applying to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos using new personal details claiming Anambra origin. This strategic shift, JAMB believes, was meant to exploit state-based admission quotas by positioning himself as eligible under different catchment criteria.
“This raises critical questions,” the Board noted. “Why would a 400-level medical student suddenly sit for the UTME again and seek admission into a completely unrelated course? The only reasonable conclusion is that he deliberately altered his identity and academic history.”
JAMB emphasized that all candidates’ identities are authenticated through the National Identification Number (NIN) platform. The Board categorically denied allegations that it retrieved erroneous data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in 2021.
“The assertion that we pulled incorrect details from NIMC is not only false but a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” Benjamin stated. “The evidence shows that Okeke altered his previous records before sitting for the 2025 UTME, a fact even some of his supporters have acknowledged.”
Digital Sympathy vs Due Process
The Board also condemned a wave of emotional advocacy on social media aimed at absolving Okeke of wrongdoing without seeking clarifications from relevant authorities. According to JAMB, many online commentators and influencers chose to rally support for the embattled student by contacting his family and casting the agency as vindictive.
Benjamin clarified that until the University of Nigeria, Nsukka issues an official statement on Okeke’s current enrollment status, JAMB will continue to treat him as an active student in the institution. However, the Board hinted that it would notify the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) if further investigations confirm irregularities.
“JAMB will not be intimidated by noise or sentimental narratives,” Benjamin insisted. “We operate based on facts and law, not emotional blackmail.”
The Board further accused Okeke of attempting to unfairly leverage both Lagos State’s admission quota in 2021 and Anambra State’s in 2025, thereby depriving other deserving candidates in both regions of fair access.
On the other side of the dispute, Alex Onyia, an education technology expert and CEO of Educare, has come to Okeke’s defense, accusing JAMB of targeted harassment and misrepresentation.
Okeke, who scored a record-breaking 375 marks in the 2025 UTME, was publicly questioned by JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during its policy meeting in Abuja, where suspicions of “foul play” were raised.
Onyia refuted JAMB’s allegations, insisting that Okeke was a victim of the 2025 UTME system glitch that affected several candidates. He explained that Okeke had to reprint his examination slip and resit the exam, where he legitimately earned his score.
He also attributed the discrepancies in Okeke’s records to a 2021 NIN data migration error, which he said had been corrected through JAMB’s formal data correction process. “Chinedu filled all the necessary forms and updated his details with JAMB. Any inconsistencies were systemic, not deliberate,” Onyia argued.
Calling for a full independent investigation, Onyia demanded that JAMB issue a public apology to Okeke, warning that the continued defamation of the young scholar’s character could have long-lasting consequences.
As this high-profile case unfolds, it throws a spotlight on the integrity of Nigeria’s admission system, the loopholes that allow manipulation, and the increasing role of digital identity infrastructure like NIN. It also highlights the widening gap between formal institutions and the court of public opinion—one that often prefers virality over veracity.
While the nation awaits further clarifications from the University of Nigeria and the MDCN, one thing is clear: the battle over Chinedu Okeke’s identity and merit is far from over. And in that battle, the integrity of Nigeria’s entire higher education admissions system may hang in the balance.
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