Fake Admission Claims: JAMB Takes Decisive Action On FUTA Graduate

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reactivated the admission portal of a Civil Engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Jamiu Basola, months after his academic journey was rocked by claims of a “fake admission.”

Naijaonpoint reports that Basola, who graduated in 2024 with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.41, had faced rejection during his final clearance for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after JAMB declared that his admission did not originate from its system.

Basola, who said he sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2017 and was admitted into FUTA in 2018, recounted how his dream of joining the NYSC hit a brick wall when the university’s Student Affairs Division informed him that his name was not on JAMB’s matriculation list.

“I was advised to verify my details, and it turned out JAMB flagged my admission as fake,” he told PUNCH.

His inability to log in to his JAMB portal and print necessary documents triggered a series of appeals, as he wrote to key officials in FUTA, including the registrar, vice-chancellor, and the admissions committee chairperson.

Speaking to journalists via telephone on Monday morning, Basola confirmed that his JAMB portal had been restored and his name had finally appeared on the official matriculation list, a key requirement for NYSC mobilisation.

“My portal was locked before. But now, I can log in, and I was able to reprint my documents. My name has now appeared on the matriculation list,” he said.

Though he is yet to be mobilised for NYSC, Basola expressed hope that the resolution would pave the way for his inclusion in the next batch.

NANS Applauds Outcome, Vows Continued Oversight

Reacting to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described the move as a victory for truth and justice.

In a statement released Monday, the National PRO of NANS, Adeyemi Ajasa, said the resolution was the result of “decisive intervention” by the association’s national leadership, led by Comrade Olushola Oladoja.

“Jamiu’s academic dedication was regrettably challenged by a ‘fake admission’ flag after years of diligent study. His fight was indeed our fight, and his victory is a triumph for every Nigerian student,” the statement read.

Ajasa also acknowledged the efforts of FUTA’s Civil Engineering Department, which wrote to JAMB clarifying Basola’s admission status.

“This resolution underscores the power of collective action and NANS’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerian students,” he said.

He further pledged that NANS would continue monitoring the case to ensure Basola’s mobilisation for NYSC proceeds without further hitches.

JAMB’s Initial Argument

Naijaonpoint reports that the controversy had gained public attention after Basola took to social media, alleging that JAMB declared his admission invalid seven years after he began his studies.

Responding to the uproar, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, issued a statement distancing the board from Basola’s admission. He claimed Basola was “an unknown entity to the Board concerning admission.”

The board also said the admission letter Basola presented “did not emanate from its system” and dismissed attempts to frame the issue emotionally, saying,

“The narrative of him being an orphan or from a disadvantaged background should not serve as emotional leverage in this matter.”

JAMB had asked Basola to explain how he obtained the questionable admission letter, maintaining that the matter would be resolved based on verifiable facts.

Reaffirming its stance, NANS said it would continue to pressure institutions to uphold due process and avoid similar future occurrences.

“We reaffirm our commitment to holding institutions accountable. The lives and academic pursuits of Nigerian students are not bargaining chips,” Ajasa stated.

Naijaonpoint reports that with his name restored on the matriculation list, Basola’s path to NYSC now appears more straightforward.

Though the drama has raised a barrage of questions about inter-agency coordination, student data integrity, and the challenges of transparency in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.