JAMB Suspends Three UTME Pin Vendors In Lagos Over ‘Extortion’

Three Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) pin vendors in Lagos state have been suspended by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

They were suspended over alleged extortion of candidates during registration.

In a statement, the board said Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar, ordered the immediate suspension of the vendors while inspecting some registration centres in the state on Tuesday.

Oloyede said the vendors engaged in “criminal extortion” of innocent candidates participating in the 2023 UTME registration exercise.

The registrar said the board will not condone any act designed to compromise the standard of the examination process.

“You see, from my interaction with these candidates, I have discovered that three of the agents vending the PINS are over-charging the candidates,” he said.

“Rather than the stipulated N5,700, they go as far as charging N6,500 and N8,700. The Mock fee not included. One of the banks, in connivance with remita, charged N8,500, but issued receipt of N5,700 to the unsuspecting candidates.

“All these persons found culpable will be given an opportunity to defend their actions and if their excuses are not justified, they will be banned from further transactions with the board.”

The development comes a few days after JAMB also suspended eTranzact from vending the 2023 UTME e-pins over alleged extortion.