UTME 2026: IGP Drags Five to Court Over Alleged Hacking of JAMB Server

Five individuals are expected to face arraignment before the Federal High Court over allegations of hacking into the server of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Computer-Based Test.

The case, initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), is contained in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/300/2026 and was filed on 22 May through prosecuting counsel, Faith Dimka, before Justice Musa Liman in Abuja.

The defendants; Ojiyovwi Miracle, Goodluck Ovuijeddo, Dennis Uvietesivwi, Ransome Monday, and Hilda Ejohwemu, are all residents of Delta State and are accused of offences bordering on cybercrime and examination malpractice.

Court filings allege that the suspects acted in concert to gain unauthorised access to a computer network linked to the JAMB server during the conduct of the 2026 UTME CBT.

Prosecutors claim that on 20 April 2026, the defendants “knowingly and without authorisation infiltrated the JAMB computer system” and installed a software identified as RADMI across more than 200 CBT systems used for the examination.

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“The system was compromised through deliberate external interference,” the prosecution stated, adding that the software allegedly enabled remote control of examination terminals and extraction of sensitive data.

Further allegations state that the defendants altered, suppressed, and inputted examination data with the intent to secure an unlawful advantage for themselves at the expense of JAMB.

The charge also accuses them of conspiring to commit examination malpractice, aiding and abetting cheating, and deploying fraudulent means to obtain examination questions.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons “procured and used deceptive tools to access restricted examination materials,” in breach of established examination protocols.

They are also said to have collaborated with others to facilitate wider malpractice during the conduct of the UTME CBT exercise.

While counts one to three are brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, the remaining counts fall under the Examination Malpractice Act 1999.

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The matter, however, did not proceed to arraignment when it came up before Justice Liman on Thursday.

The court observed that since all the defendants reside in Delta State, it would be more practical for the case to be heard at the Federal High Court division in that jurisdiction to ensure a quicker hearing.

“The convenience of trial and the interest of justice will be better served in Delta State,” the judge noted.

Both the prosecution counsel, Faith Dimka, and the defence lawyers did not oppose the suggestion.

The court subsequently directed that the case file be returned to the registry for transfer to the Federal High Court division in Delta State for further proceedings.