The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against providing false information in their forms.
The board warned that any breach could lead to severe sanctions against the candidates.
The Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede gave the warning while addressing media executives penultimate week, according to details contained in JAMB’s weekly bulletin released on Monday.
The warning is coming ahead of the deadline for the 2026 UTME registration, which began on January 26. The registration has entered its third week, with the board insisting there will be no extension.
Oloyede emphasized that registration infractions constitute serious offences. Just as he noted that candidates found guilty could be barred from sitting the UTME for up to three years.
He said, “Registration infraction is a serious offence.”
“Names of defaulters could be published in national newspapers and circulated to other public examination bodies.”
The Registrar further disclosed that offenders could also be handed over to law enforcement and anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), or the Nigerian Police, for investigation and prosecution.
On the attestation signed by candidates during registration, Oloyede explained that the declaration requires applicants to provide truthful and accurate information in their forms and supporting documents.
He said, “Any attempt to falsify data will attract appropriate sanctions.”
According to him, the attestation clause was incorporated into the registration process following lessons learned from previous legal disputes involving candidates.
Oloyede pointed out that the clause now serves as a formal verification mechanism to confirm the authenticity of academic credentials and other information submitted during registration, with the aim of curbing fraud.
The Registrar urged candidates to avoid submitting fictitious details, warning that such actions could jeopardize their chances of securing admission into tertiary institutions.