Four individuals have been arrested as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) discovered a shocking 585 fraudulent Advanced Level certificates submitted by candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
The arrests followed an extensive verification exercise conducted by JAMB in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, targeting the authenticity of A-Level qualifications presented by prospective university students. The operation revealed an alarming trend of certificate forgery that authorities believe may represent only “the tip of the iceberg.”
According to a senior JAMB official who spoke with our correspondent, the arrested suspects are believed to be part of a sophisticated syndicate specializing in the production and distribution of counterfeit educational credentials. “These individuals have been exploiting desperate candidates and undermining the integrity of our educational system for years,” the official stated.
The verification exercise, which examined thousands of certificates submitted through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), flagged the suspicious documents based on inconsistencies in formatting, authorization signatures, and registration numbers. Further investigation confirmed that the certificates had no corresponding records at their purported awarding institutions.
Most of the fake certificates were reportedly designed to mimic legitimate qualifications from recognized examination bodies, including NABTEB, NBTE, and various university foundation programs. The forgeries were so sophisticated that they initially passed preliminary screenings at some universities.
“What makes this particularly disturbing is the level of detail in these forgeries,” explained a document verification expert familiar with the case. “They included security features, authentic-looking seals, and even verification codes that would redirect to fake websites if checked.”
The Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects would face multiple charges including forgery, fraud, and conspiracy. “This is a serious crime with far-reaching implications for our educational system and national development,” the PPRO emphasized.
JAMB’s Registrar has warned that the Board is implementing more stringent verification protocols, including blockchain technology and real-time verification systems with awarding institutions. “We are determined to sanitize the system and ensure that only qualified candidates gain admission into our tertiary institutions,” the Registrar stated.
Educational stakeholders have expressed concern over the development, with many calling for a comprehensive audit of all A-Level certificates currently in the system. The National Universities Commission has also issued a directive to all universities to double-check the credentials of recently admitted students.
As investigations continue, JAMB has promised to publish the names of all affected candidates and blacklist them from future examinations after due legal process. The Board has also advised genuine candidates to ensure their certificates are properly verified and registered with appropriate examining bodies.
Fout In Police Net As JAMB Uncovers Unprecedented 585 Fake A-Level Certificate
