Investigation… Extortion, mercenaries, swapping hold sway despite JAMB CBT

In efforts to eliminate widespread allegations of corruption, mass cheating, extortion of candidates and collusion by officials, as well as other malpractices and irregularities in the conduct of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Board introduced the use of Computer-Based Test (CBT) in 2013  to replace the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) in the country. The initiative was led by its former Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

However, the CBT was not totally functional until March 9, 2015 when the examination body imprinted a landmark in its 37-year history by kicking off the first nation-wide use of CBT for exams as a way of ending examination malpractices.

But despite this widely applauded innovation, investigations reveal that the use of mercenaries, swapping of candidates, extortion, collusion by JAMB officials and CBT Centre owners as well as malpractices of different sorts still continue.

In this investigative report, a Ripples Nigeria operative went undercover to enrol as a candidate to write the 2018 JAMB computer administered examination, during which period he spoke and interacted with some JAMB officials, CBT Centre owners and other candidates who participated in the exam.

Findings revealed corruption and collusion by JAMB officials and CBT Centre owners to aid in examination malpractices by extorting and swapping candidates with pre-arranged mercenaries, who write the exams on behalf of the candidate, for an agreed price.

Trip to unravel the truth

On February 7, 2018, three days before the end of the extended deadline for registration for the JAMB examination, Joseph (not real name) who had worked as a supervisor at a JAMB-CBT registration Centre in Nsukka, the serene town of the University of Nigeria Nsukka in Enugu state, told Ripples Nigeria operative about Prince Academy – a miracle centre for candidates seeking examination breakthrough in their results in order to gain admission into the university.

Our operative did necessary background checks, established contacts and other sources, then left for Nsukka to chase and establish the truth or otherwise of Joseph’s claims.

After a 45-minutes’ drive from Enugu, he arrived Nsukka town on Thursday, February 8, to register for the JAMB-CBT at Prince Academy.

Outside the park where the vehicle dropped off Nsukka passengers, he approached a commercial motorcyclist to seek directions.

It was 3pm and with the scorching harmattan sun peeling at his skin, he inquired of one of the bike-men if he knew where to locate Prince Academy.

“Yes, I know am,” the bike-man answered in the affirmative.

After the bargain was concluded at N200, the 10-minute trip ended at the place – with a conspicuous sign post reading “Prince Academy” boldly inscribed in front of the building.

The Registration:

Prince Academy is located along Odenigbo road, Ebeano shopping plaza – a very busy road in the heart of Nsukka – about one kilometre from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus and about fifteen minutes’ drive to Onuiyi – the official residence of late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president.

On this day, a visitor to the premises of Prince Academy, was greeted by a noisy environment of prospective candidates – young boys and girls, even older ones too, about 100 in number, all holding their already purchased JAMB forms and moving from one direction to the other within the Academy’s vicinity.

At the front desk, Ripples Nigeria asked one of the two receptionists who were busy attending to prospective candidates who came to purchase their forms and register, how much it cost to buy a JAMB form.

“N6, 500” she replied while speaking to her colleague who was seated close to her.

Our operative  then demanded to see Mr Prince, her boss and owner of the set-up who it was earlier alleged handles and organizes contracts for swapping of candidates and other such deals relating to the CBT exam.

Prospective candidates obtaining their forms

“He is not around now, but you can buy your form and fill it while waiting for him,” she advised.

After making payment, the receptionist registered the details provided and handed over a form. While filling the form, Ripples Nigeria operative  provided details like name, date of birth, home address, place of origin, phone number and email address. He also included Law as a choice course of study in the university.

The crowd was intimidating and by the time our operative could finish purchasing and filling the form, it was already 6:15pm.

Gloria, the front desk receptionist who attended to him, asked him to return by 7am the next day for biometric registration, which include thumb-printing, passport capturing and filling out of other details on the computer, as it was time for close of work.

Normally, after filling out the form and submitting it, depending on the crowd, you might continue with the next stage or asked to come back the next day to complete the registration.

By 7:15am, our operative was already at the centre. Likewise, over 30 other prospective candidates who were there earlier, most of whom Gloria said had been there as early as 6am.

Having submitted the form, and while waiting for his turn to do the biometric registration (thumb-printing, passport capturing, and filling out of other details on the computer), Ripples Nigeria demanded to see the owner of Prince Academy who had gone straight into his office upon arrival a few minutes earlier.

Our operative after being ushered into his office which is situated in the same building, told him of his intention to arrange for a mercenary who could write the JAMB exam for him as he needed to make a higher grade to enable him get admission into the university to study Law.

His office was more like a mini-library, and a workshop of some sort – books, shelves, his framed pictures, old and new calendars of him presenting awards and gifts to best performing students in his Academy and some plaque of awards he received in the past. His table looked like a playground – unkempt books and sheaf of single papers.

“What’s your name?’” he asked.

Ripples Nigeria operative told him.

“Can I see your passport to know if you look like the person who will impersonate for you?” he asked me.

Our operative showed him a passport photograph, and he said he needed to send it to his boys to verify if the mercenary-match could be found. He immediately makes a phone call and said “How long will it take you to get here? 15 minutes? OK” he said to the person at the other end of the phone.

He told me to wait that one of his boys who would do the work is coming so we can talk and agree on terms.

While waiting for the arrival of the person, Ripples Nigeria enquired how much the services of the impersonator would cost.

“N150, 000 is the last price,” he said while flipping through a register on his table containing the details of his candidates.

On why it was so high, he said it was because of the subject combination of the course (Law) our operative wants to write.

That aside, he continued, he would not reduce the price because our operative  came late since it was already three days to the deadline for the sale of forms.

“You didn’t come on time and now you want to put me under unnecessary pressure. Others who came earlier had got people who would write for them,” he said while continuing with what he was doing.

According to him, if our operative  had come earlier and wanted to write for courses like Mass Communication, Social sciences or Political Science, that the price might be placed between N50,000 – N80,000.

But for courses like Medicine and Surgery, Law and Pharmacy, their prices are always on the high side because they are highly sought after.

On how the payment process works: Cash or wire transfer? After or before the exam?

“Of course before the exam,” he snapped. “Whether cash or transfer is fine,” he said.

Owner of prince Academy attending to prospective JAMB CBT candidates

How it works? He said he would find someone who looks exactly like me to enter the hall on my behalf and write the exam for me. The applicant will follow them to the venue, sign in and enter as though he is the one writing it before the swapping will take place.

When asked what about the JAMB officials at the exam Centre?, Mr Prince assured that “They will be taken care of to allow the swap happen. We have been doing this for years before CBT. So we know how we sort them out,” he boasted.

After about 20 minutes, the mercenary he had called arrived. Standing about five-feet, lanky, dark, the young man wore an over-sized trouser and shirt.

Unfortunately, after assessing the would-be mercenary, it didn’t work out as the Ripples Nigeria operative was obviously younger, taller and bigger than the would-be mercenary.

“This one will not work,” Prince said frowning his face while comparing both individuals who were sitting close together.

“Can’t you see the way your head is? I need to find someone who has this type of head and eyes too so that it will work perfectly without any hitch. You are also taller than him,” he said.