Several individuals accused of orchestrating examination fraud and large scale registration violations have fled Nigeria and are now attempting to open dialogue with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board from abroad, but the Registrar has categorically rejected any form of engagement.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this at the University of Ibadan while speaking to journalists during a training session for test developers, making it clear that JAMB will not entertain negotiations with individuals accused of criminal conduct, as such matters fall under the jurisdiction of security agencies.

The Registrar's statement followed recent public commentary on the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration exercise, including remarks by Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, who had raised concerns about difficulties some candidates were facing at registration centres.

Prof. Oloyede said he personally respects Obi but stressed that public discourse on institutional matters must not be allowed to weaken accountability mechanisms or erode the procedures that protect the examination system from abuse.

According to him, some individuals linked to fraudulent registration activities and examination malpractice have left the country and are now seeking to initiate talks, apparently hoping to avoid prosecution by presenting themselves as willing to cooperate.

Prof. Oloyede dismissed the approach outright. He stated that JAMB would not enter into any arrangement that could compromise the integrity of the UTME or harm the prospects of candidates who have been victims of examination fraud.

The Registrar also used the occasion to announce that JAMB had completed its 10 year automation programme, with the latest phase focusing on digitising the question authoring process. Test developers can now create UTME questions remotely without the need for physical gatherings.

Prof. Adenike Oladiji, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, commended the development, noting that it would enhance quality assurance in the admission process. Prof. Mahfuz Adedimeji, Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, described the training as a critical step in fully digitising JAMB's operations.

The board's firm stance signals that while it continues to modernise its processes, it remains equally committed to holding offenders accountable and preserving the credibility of Nigeria's admission examination system.