The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said yesterday that 50 professional examination writers had been apprehended during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to information published in the board’s weekly bulletin, the arrested expert examination writers comprises Masters’ degree holders, postgraduate and undergraduate students of various tertiary institutions in the country.
Spokesman for JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin said the examination contractors connived with owners and operators of computer based test centres (CBTs) to carry out the crime by engaging in multiple registrations where the fingerprints of the main candidates are captured side by side with that of the impostors.
The bulletin stated: “The board has uncovered a group of professional examination writers who take the exams for prospective candidates for a fee.
“As a result of intelligence gathering, over 50 of such writers have been arrested across the country.
“Some of the fraudsters are Masters’ Degree holders, postgraduate and undergraduate students of tertiary institutions.
“The modus operandi of these UTME syndicates was confirmed when one of the kingpins was apprehended recently.”
“On interrogation, he confessed to the multiple registration of his biometrics alongside other several potential candidates preparing to sit for the examination, in exchange for a huge sum of money.
“This development led to the decision of the board to revalidate all biometrics of candidates that have taken the board’s examination in recent times.
“This timely action will enable the board to not only fish out and dismantle this registration cartels and racketeers, but also bring them to book along with their collaborators.”
The bulletin further said: “This Development is the fundamental reason for the decision of the board to revalidate all biometrics of candidates that have taken the board’s examination in recent times.
“This timely action would enable the board to not only fish out and dismantle these registration cartels and racketeers but also bring them to book along with their collaborators.”
Meanwhile, Fabian said 1, 236, 316 candidates out of the 1.8 million registered had so far taken the examination.
