The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.

The results of 39,834 candidates are withheld by JAMB.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this during the official release of the 2025 UTME results at JAMB headquarters in Abuja on Friday, May 9.

Oloyede disclosed that the seizure of results was due to suspected examination malpractices.

He revealed that 80 individuals are being probed for exam-related offences.

The 2025 UTME saw 2,030,862 candidates registered across 882 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria.

Oloyede said of the number, 1,957,000 candidates were verified to sit the exam, while 71,705 were absent.

He said of the 2,030,862 registered UTME candidates, results for 1,911,551 were released.

The JAMB registrar added that 39,834 results remained pending due to ongoing scrutiny, with 1,426 under active investigation.

According to him, 2,157 candidates experienced fingerprint rejections due to suspected registration infractions, a figure far above acceptable margins and currently under investigation.

Oloyede stated: “The 2025 UTME showed the prevalence of some particular types of infractions, which suggests systemic vulnerabilities or gaps in registration and examination administration or/and monitoring.

“The new trends observed were in the registration and examination processes and they were mainly in the following categories – identity fraud and biometric fraud of combined thumbprint of candidate.”

Other infractions, the JAMB said, were impersonator at the point of registration with the active involvement of few CBT centres, double registration, and attempted substitution of self by candidates.

Oloyede added that 244 candidates were caught engaging in “WhatsApp runs”, subscribing to rogue groups promising leaked questions.

He said their results were also withheld to set a stern example.

In some cases, he said, the syndicates colluded with CBT centres to register using multiple fingerprints.

The JAMB registrar noted that as a result of this, 3,656 candidates with “extraneous fingerprints” have had their results withheld, adding that some CBT centres implicated will face sanctions.

Oloyede stated that 80 suspects were being interrogated by the police for their involvement in the examination malpractices, saying most of them would be prosecuted.

He said: “The board has identified the presence of extraneous fingers in the registration details of some of these candidates.

This raises concerns regarding potential strategies for impersonation.

“A total of 3,656 candidates fall within this category. Consequently, the results of the candidates have been withheld.”

Oloyede stated that despite challenges, the 2025 UTME had been hailed as one of the most successful in recent years.

He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to zero-tolerance stance on malpractice and pledged continued innovation to protect the credibility of public examinations.