2025 UTME: JAMB Accuses Top Scorer of Being Exam Mercenary, Vows Investigation
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised concerns over suspected foul play in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result of Chinedu Okeke, who was announced as the top scorer.
OTN News further reports that JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made the disclosure earlier this week during the 2025 policy meeting of the Board held in Abuja.
According to Oloyede, Okeke, an indigene of Anambra State, emerged the overall best candidate with a score of 375 and applied to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos.
However, the Board uncovered discrepancies that cast doubt on the legitimacy of Okeke’s candidature.
Professor Oloyede revealed that data from JAMB’s records show that the same candidate had previously secured admission to study Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Further speaking on the matter, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the Board suspects Okeke may have acted as an examination mercenary—a person who writes exams on behalf of another candidate.
“The law does not permit dual matriculation. As an undergraduate, he already holds an unfair advantage over other candidates. More so, there is a discrepancy in his personal data. One record shows he is from the South-East, while another indicates Lagos State as his origin,” Benjamin explained.
JAMB stressed that investigations are ongoing and vowed to take necessary actions in line with established examination ethics and laws.
Meanwhile, the Board released the list of other top scorers in the 2025 UTME. John Ayuba from Gombe State came second with a score of 374, followed by Olayinka Jimoh from Kwara State who scored 373.
Others who scored 373 include Ayibo Roberts from Rivers State, Chibueze Omonugbo from Enugu, Tunmise Olawepo from Kwara, and Leslie Afinotan from Delta.
Also among the highest scorers are Chukwuemeka Azoyenime from Delta, Emmanuel Oyebode from Ogun, and Cecil Omigie from Edo, each with a score of 372.
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