No fewer than 17 officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have been sentenced to prison for aiding 15,000 students in forging admission letters to qualify for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The Registrar of the JAMB, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, made the revelation on Monday during the 2025 Batch C Pre-Mobilisation Workshop organised by the NYSC in Abuja.

He said those involved were currently being prosecuted by the Board for alleged forgery.

According to him, the massive fraud was discovered after JAMB’s internal audit and cross-verification of records from various tertiary institutions.

The JAMB Registrar said: “One day I ran to your predecessor (referring to DG of NYSC) because I couldn’t believe that 15,000 candidates forged admission letters.

“As I speak with you some deputy registrars are being tried by ICPC. Some deputy vice – chancellors, not less than 17, including four JAMB staff, are in prison custody. We took them to ICPC.

“Those who want to go to jail should do so knowingly, not by accident.

“I want to advise you: follow the rules and you will have less problems. I suggest you follow the right path and you will see that most of the problems that are self-created by you will be eliminated.”

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Olakunle Nafiu, has cautioned stakeholders against actions that could bring disrepute to the scheme’s mobilisation process.

Speaking during the 2025 Batch C Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, Nafiu lamented the increasing cases of forged credentials, multiple registrations, and identity theft by unqualified individuals attempting to infiltrate the NYSC system.

According to him, the fraudulent practices pose a serious threat to the integrity and credibility of the mobilisation process, which was designed to uphold national values and ensure that only qualified graduates participate in the one-year mandatory service.

He urged all relevant institutions and agencies to strengthen their verification mechanisms and work closely with the NYSC to protect the scheme from further abuse.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the NYSC announced that registration for the 2025 Batch C orientation will take place online from November 4 to November 9, 2025, for both local and foreign-trained graduates.

According to the mobilisation timetable shared alongside the notice, the dates are tentative and subject to adjustment if necessary.

The timetable indicated that pre-camp physical verification of credentials for foreign-trained graduates will take place from November 9 to 13, while ICT action is scheduled between November 12 and 15.

It also stated that the online printing of deployment letters by corps-producing institutions, as well as the physical delivery of call-up letters to schools, will occur between November 16 and 18.

Prospective corps members are expected to print their call-up letters within the same window, November 16–18.

How do you think the certificate forgery scandal can be curbed in Nigeria? Let’s know your thoughts in the comment section.