JAMB arrests 38 CBT centre owners over ‘cybercrime’

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has handed over 38 owners of accredited Computer Based Test (CBT) centers to security agents for prosecution over cybercrime-related allegations.

On Wednesday, the board had invited CBT operators to a meeting in Abuja alongside delegates of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

However, some operators were arrested and handed over to the security operatives over “fraudulent” registration practices.

While speaking to journalists after the meeting, Is-haq Oloyede, the registrar of JAMB, said the move is indicative of the board’s commitment to fighting examination malpractice.

He said the operators’ offenses included the submission of fictitious names and fake national identification numbers (NIN) to the board as officers that will partake in the exercise.

He also said some operators registered candidates for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) exam using the virtual private network (VPN).

VPNs allow internet users to create a secure connection to another network. They can be used to access region-restricted websites, shielding one’s browsing activity from prying eyes on public Wi-Fi.

According to Oloyede, the accused operators extended the VPN on their computers to extend the point of registration to undesignated locations while others used non-existent NIN.

“Our present technology enables us to track all registration officers, either ad hoc or permanent JAMB workers, through the National Identification Numbers (NIN),” he said.

“All designated computers used for the registration have also been duly registered by the board, which enables tracking, and has successfully led us to crimes committed by some of the centres.

“I appeal to candidates and their parents to go through the normal process of this exercise. Those who go to unaccredited centres, thinking it will work on their favour, would have themselves to blame.”

Oloyede said over 40 computers have been confiscated in evidence, adding that candidates who registered with fraudulent centres might not be able to sit for its 2020 UTME.