The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched a formal investigation into allegations of identity manipulation and records alteration involving Chinedu Christian Okeke, who was recently announced as the top scorer in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Okeke, who scored 375 out of 400 in the 2025 UTME and was celebrated for his academic feat, is now under scrutiny following emerging discrepancies in his academic history and personal records. According to JAMB, preliminary findings revealed that Okeke had previously gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and is currently enrolled in the program.
JAMB’s investigation found that Okeke wrote the 2025 UTME and applied for admission into Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), while still an active student at UNN. This act constitutes dual or multiple matriculations, which is a clear violation of JAMB regulations and Nigerian university admission policies. The board emphasized that candidates are not permitted to enroll in a new full-time undergraduate program while already registered in another.
Further complicating the case, JAMB discovered inconsistencies in the candidate’s personal details. The data associated with his UTME 2025 registration indicated that he hailed from Anambra State, whereas documents tied to his earlier admission into UNN listed Lagos State as his state of origin. This discrepancy has raised strong suspicions of impersonation or possible use of multiple identities to gain unfair advantage within the admission system.
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the board’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that an official probe has commenced. The board is collaborating with key institutions including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the University of Lagos; the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to verify the authenticity of Okeke’s claims and academic history.
The board stressed that integrity and fairness are foundational to the conduct of public examinations and university admissions in Nigeria. Any actions undermining this credibility, such as the use of dual identities or tampering with official records, will be treated with the utmost seriousness.
JAMB also noted that if the allegations against Okeke are proven, disciplinary measures will be taken. These may include cancellation of his 2025 UTME result, disqualification from securing admission into any tertiary institution for that session, and possible legal action in accordance with the Examination Malpractice Act. The board further warned that students found culpable of academic fraud will be blacklisted and may face a ban from future participation in any JAMB-administered examination.
The board’s decision to investigate Okeke came shortly after the official announcement of the top UTME scorers during the 2025 policy meeting on admissions, where his record-breaking score had been celebrated. JAMB stated that while it acknowledges academic excellence, it will not hesitate to probe any suspicious activity regardless of the candidate’s score or public perception.
Educational stakeholders and members of the public have been urged to await the outcome of the investigation, as JAMB continues to gather evidence and verify facts from the involved institutions and regulatory bodies. The case has also sparked renewed calls for improved digital verification processes across all education institutions in Nigeria to prevent similar occurrences.
As of the time of this report, JAMB has not officially released a final verdict on Okeke’s case. The investigation is ongoing, and a conclusive statement will be issued once all facts have been thoroughly reviewed and verified.