Top JAMB Scorer Chinedu Okeke at Center of Identity Fraud Controversy After Failing Medical Exams
Chinedu Okeke, a 400-level medical student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has become the subject of a heated national debate after scoring an impressive 375 out of 400 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
While his academic performance stunned many, it has now been overshadowed by serious allegations from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), accusing him of identity manipulation and examination irregularities.
According to reports, Okeke initially gained admission into UNN to study Medicine and Surgery. However, after failing key MBBS examinations in his fourth year, he decided to abandon the program and pursue a new academic path in Mechanical Engineering. To achieve this, he sat for the 2025 UTME — scoring one of the highest marks in the country.
What began as a story of academic perseverance quickly turned into controversy after JAMB released a public document titled “Chinedu Okeke: A Tale of Emotional Blackmail”, in which it accused Okeke of falsifying personal records to manipulate the university admission system.
In the document, JAMB claims that Okeke originally registered for the UTME in 2021 using Lagos State as his state of origin — a factor that may have helped him benefit from quota advantages. However, in his 2025 application, he reportedly changed his origin to Anambra State, raising suspicions of deliberate misrepresentation.
JAMB’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, stated that while Okeke’s new application was not inherently illegal, it raised concerns about consistency and transparency. The board insists that the matter goes beyond scoring high marks — it speaks to the integrity of the admissions process.
“Public sympathy cannot override institutional integrity,” Benjamin said. “The attempt to use public sentiment to shield clear discrepancies in registration is a form of emotional blackmail, and we will not allow it.”
JAMB also pointed out that UNN’s records still list Okeke as a current medical student, casting doubt on whether he had officially withdrawn from the program before taking the new examination.
Despite the accusations, many Nigerians have taken to social media to defend Okeke. A viral tweet by X user @jeffphilips1 brought attention to his case, stating:
“A 400-level medical student failed MBBS exams, decided to change his course to Mechanical Engineering to start from 100-level, wrote JAMB again, and scored 375/400.”
The story has sparked national debate on the rights of students to switch disciplines, and whether JAMB is overreaching in its interpretation of rules around data consistency. Many critics have accused the board of attempting to tarnish the achievements of a student who simply sought a second chance.
“There is no law that says a student cannot change course or rewrite JAMB,” one education analyst commented. “If a student chooses to start afresh in another department, that is within their academic right.”
This development comes at a time when JAMB is already under fire over widespread complaints about the 2025 UTME. Over 380,000 candidates were affected by technical failures, forcing the board to conduct a resit. Several top scorers have come forward with complaints of score discrepancies, slow resolution of issues, and poor communication.
Okeke’s case is now seen by some as a symbol of a flawed system that punishes ambition and transparency, while protecting bureaucratic inefficiencies. Others argue that identity manipulation, even if done for academic advantage, must be scrutinized to uphold the credibility of public institutions.
The final outcome may depend on investigations by JAMB and further clarifications from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. If it is proven that Okeke misrepresented information deliberately, consequences could follow. However, if the allegations prove unsubstantiated, JAMB may face further criticism for targeting a student based on suspicion alone.
For now, Chinedu Okeke remains both a symbol of brilliance and controversy — a young man whose academic journey reflects the deeper tensions between opportunity, transparency, and trust in Nigeria’s educational system.
