UTME Candidates Who Falsify Information Risk 3-year Ban

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against committing registration infractions or violating the attestation signed during the process.

The warning was issued by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, as the 2026 UTME registration, which began on January 26, entered its third week.

Prof. Oloyede stressed the gravity of registration-related offences while speaking with media executives penultimate week, a statement later captured in JAMB’s weekly bulletin published on the Board’s website on Monday.

According to him, registration infractions constitute serious offences and could attract stiff penalties, including a ban from sitting the UTME for up to three years.

“Names of defaulters may also be published in national dailies and circulated to other public examination bodies,” the Registrar warned.

He further disclosed that offenders could be handed over to law enforcement and anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), or the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for prosecution.

On the attestation signed by candidates during registration, Prof. Oloyede explained that the declaration binds applicants to provide truthful and accurate information in their applications and supporting documents.

He noted that any attempt to falsify data would attract appropriate sanctions, adding that the attestation clause was incorporated into the registration process following lessons learned from past legal disputes involving candidates.

“The attestation now forms an integral part of the application documents and serves as a formal verification process to confirm the authenticity of academic credentials and all information submitted during registration,” he said, noting that the measure was designed to curb fraud.

The Registrar urged candidates to refrain from providing fictitious or misleading information, warning that such actions could ultimately jeopardise their chances of securing admission into tertiary institutions.