The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that the law programme at Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, remains under suspension and is not authorised to admit new students.
The board issued the clarification after receiving numerous enquiries from concerned candidates and members of the public regarding alleged admissions into the Faculty of Law at the university despite the existing five-year suspension placed on the programme.
According to JAMB, any admission carried out into the law programme at the institution during the suspension period is invalid because it was not processed through the official admission platform known as the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The board warned candidates across Nigeria to avoid accepting admission offers outside CAPS, stressing that such admissions are fake and will not be recognised by the authorities.
Understanding JAMB’s Role in Nigeria’s Admission System
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is the statutory body responsible for regulating admissions into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
Established in 1978, the board conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which serves as the gateway for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
Beyond conducting examinations, JAMB also oversees the admission process to ensure transparency, fairness, and compliance with established guidelines.
In recent years, the board introduced CAPS to address irregularities and ensure that all admissions are centrally monitored.
Through this system, institutions are required to process every admission offer, which candidates must then accept or reject on the platform.
This digital system was introduced to eliminate issues such as:
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Multiple admissions
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Fake admission letters
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Admission racketeering
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Manipulation of admission lists
JAMB has consistently warned institutions and candidates that any admission conducted outside CAPS will not be recognised.
The Suspension of the Law Programme
The law programme at Lead City University was suspended by the appropriate regulatory authorities for a period of five years.
Such suspensions are typically imposed when academic programmes fail to meet regulatory requirements or accreditation standards.
Professional programmes such as law are subject to strict oversight from regulatory bodies to ensure that students receive quality legal education.
The decision to suspend a programme is usually taken after evaluations reveal issues such as:
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Inadequate academic facilities
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Insufficient qualified lecturers
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Failure to meet curriculum requirements
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Non-compliance with regulatory standards
During a suspension period, the institution is not permitted to admit new students into the affected programme until the issues identified by regulators are fully resolved.
Public Concerns Over Alleged Admissions
JAMB explained that it had been inundated with calls and enquiries from candidates and parents who were concerned about reports that the university had resumed admitting students into its law programme.
Many prospective students reportedly received admission offers despite the suspension.
This development raised serious concerns among stakeholders in the education sector.
According to the board, investigations revealed that some admissions were allegedly being offered without passing through CAPS.
This prompted the board to issue a public statement clarifying that such admissions are invalid.
Why Admissions Outside CAPS Are Considered Fake
The Central Admissions Processing System is the only platform recognised by JAMB for processing admissions.
Every institution in Nigeria must upload its admission lists to CAPS, where candidates can verify and accept the offers.
If an admission does not appear on CAPS, it means the admission has not been officially recognised by JAMB.
JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, emphasised that candidates should always confirm their admission status on CAPS before proceeding with registration or payment of school fees.
He stated that any admission offered outside the platform is essentially fake and will not be recognised by the board.
Warning to Candidates
The board issued a strong warning to candidates across the country.
According to JAMB, accepting admission outside CAPS could lead to serious consequences.
Candidates who accept such admissions risk being denied official recognition as students.
This means that:
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Their admission may not be recognised by JAMB.
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They may not be eligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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Their certificates could be considered invalid.
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Because of these risks, JAMB advised candidates to remain vigilant and follow the proper admission process.
Candidates May Be Considered Complicit
One important aspect of the statement issued by JAMB is the warning that candidates who knowingly accept admissions outside CAPS may be considered complicit in the irregular process.
This means that candidates cannot later claim ignorance if they knowingly accepted admission through unofficial channels.
JAMB stressed that it has repeatedly warned candidates about the importance of using CAPS.
Therefore, anyone who ignores these warnings may bear responsibility for the consequences.
What Affected Candidates Should Do
For candidates who have already received admission offers outside CAPS, JAMB advised them to disregard such offers immediately.
Instead, they should prepare to follow the legitimate admission process.
This includes:
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Registering for the next UTME.
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Participating in the proper admission process.
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Ensuring their admission appears on CAPS before acceptance.
JAMB emphasised that this is the only way candidates can guarantee that their admission is legitimate and recognised.
Attempts to Circumvent the System
Another issue highlighted by JAMB is the alleged attempt by some institutions to bypass the rules by transferring illegally admitted candidates to other universities.
This process, known as inter-university transfer, allows students to move from one institution to another.
However, JAMB clarified that such transfers are only valid if the student was originally admitted through CAPS.
If the original admission is illegal, any transfer based on that admission will also be invalid.
Therefore, JAMB stated that it will not approve any transfer that does not originate from a valid admission.
Importance of CAPS in Nigeria’s Admission System
The introduction of CAPS marked a major reform in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
Before CAPS was introduced, admissions were largely handled by individual institutions.
This led to various problems, including:
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Lack of transparency
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Admission racketeering
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Multiple admissions
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Exploitation of candidates
CAPS was designed to solve these problems by providing a centralised digital platform.
Through CAPS, candidates can:
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Monitor their admission status
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Accept or reject admission offers
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Track admission progress
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Ensure transparency in the process
This system has significantly reduced irregularities in the admission process.
How Candidates Can Check Their Admission on CAPS
Candidates can verify their admission status through the JAMB portal.
The steps include:
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Visiting the official JAMB website.
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Logging into their profile using their registration details.
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Navigating to the CAPS section.
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Checking the admission status.
If the admission appears on CAPS, the candidate can then choose to accept or reject the offer.
If it does not appear, the candidate should treat the offer with caution.
Role of Universities in Admission Compliance
Universities across Nigeria are expected to comply with JAMB’s admission regulations.
This includes:
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Uploading admission lists to CAPS
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Adhering to approved admission quotas
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Following established admission timelines
Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to sanctions.
Sanctions may include:
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Suspension of programmes
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Withdrawal of accreditation
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Disqualification from admission exercises
These measures are intended to protect students and maintain the integrity of the education system.
Protecting Candidates from Admission Fraud
Admission fraud remains a serious problem in Nigeria.
Many candidates fall victim to fake admission offers every year.
Some institutions or individuals exploit desperate candidates by offering unofficial admission opportunities.
These offers often come with demands for payments or fees.
JAMB’s warning serves as a reminder for candidates to remain cautious.
Before accepting any admission offer, candidates should verify it through CAPS.
Advice to Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians also play an important role in protecting candidates from admission scams.
They should ensure that their children follow the correct admission procedures.
This includes verifying admission offers through official channels.
Parents should also avoid paying money to individuals who promise to secure admission through unofficial means.
The Future of Admission Regulation in Nigeria
JAMB has continued to introduce reforms aimed at improving the admission process in Nigeria.
These reforms focus on:
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Digital transparency
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Centralised monitoring
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Accountability among institutions
The board has also increased public awareness about admission guidelines.
By doing so, it aims to ensure that candidates are better informed and protected from fraudulent practices.
JAMB Reaffirms Commitment to Regulations
In conclusion, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board reiterated that the law programme at Lead City University remains suspended and that the institution is not authorised to admit new students into the programme.
The board warned that any admission offered outside the Central Admissions Processing System is invalid and will not be recognised.
Candidates were strongly advised to follow the proper admission process and ensure that their admission appears on CAPS before accepting it.
JAMB assured stakeholders that it will continue to enforce admission regulations strictly in accordance with the laws governing Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The board also urged institutions to comply fully with admission guidelines to maintain the credibility and integrity of the nation’s education system.