The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning to candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), cautioning them against submitting false or misleading information.
The warning was given by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, as the ongoing UTME registration, which began on January 26, enters its third week.
Speaking during an interaction with media executives, Prof. Oloyede described registration infractions as serious offences with far-reaching consequences. According to him, candidates found guilty of violating registration rules or breaching the attestation they sign during registration risk being barred from sitting the UTME for up to three years.
He added that the names of offenders could also be published in national newspapers and circulated to other public examination bodies.
Beyond these penalties, the Registrar disclosed that defaulters may be handed over to law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), or the Nigerian Police for prosecution.
Prof. Oloyede further explained that the attestation clause signed by candidates is a binding declaration requiring them to provide truthful and accurate information, including academic credentials and personal details.
Any attempt to falsify data, he warned, would attract appropriate sanctions.
“The attestation clause, now a key part of the registration process, was introduced based on lessons learned from previous legal disputes with candidates,” Oloyede said.
He noted that the clause serves as a formal verification mechanism to confirm the authenticity of all information submitted during registration and to curb examination fraud.
The JAMB Registrar urged candidates to avoid supplying fictitious or misleading details, stressing that such actions could ultimately ruin their chances of securing admission into tertiary institutions.
Advertisement
