Oyo SUBEB Denies Common Entrance Exam Leakage, Threatens Legal Action Against Rumour Peddlers

The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has strongly denied allegations of examination leakage in the recently concluded Common Entrance Examination into public secondary schools, describing the claims as “baseless, malicious, and deliberately fabricated to tarnish the image of the Board and undermine public confidence in the education system.”

In a press statement issued on Monday, the Executive Chairman of Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, warned that the Board would not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against individuals or groups found to be behind the “wicked rumour-mongering” aimed at disrupting the smooth conduct and credibility of the examination.

The denial follows widespread social media reports and anonymous claims suggesting that question papers for the Common Entrance Examination held on Saturday, July 5, 2026, were leaked hours before the exam commenced in several centres across the state. Some parents and education stakeholders had alleged that screenshots of the questions were circulating on WhatsApp groups, raising fears of mass malpractice.

Dr. Adeniran dismissed the reports as “the handiwork of failed candidates and their sponsors who are looking for excuses for poor performance.” He insisted that the examination was conducted under strict supervision, with adequate security provided by personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun, and SUBEB monitoring teams.

“The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board wishes to state categorically that there was no leakage of question papers before, during, or after the 2026 Common Entrance Examination,” the statement read. “All security protocols were strictly observed. The examination materials were kept under maximum security and distributed only at the point of commencement in the presence of accredited officials.”

SUBEB revealed that it had introduced several new measures this year to safeguard the integrity of the examination. These included the use of tamper-proof packaging for question papers, real-time monitoring of examination centres through a central control room, deployment of undercover officials, and the introduction of biometric verification for supervisors in selected centres.

The Board also disclosed that it had received and acted on intelligence reports about possible attempts to compromise the examination. Several individuals suspected of trying to obtain question papers illegally were reportedly arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation.

Dr. Adeniran assured parents and the general public that the results of the examination would be released strictly on merit. He warned that any candidate found to have been involved in malpractice would have their results cancelled, regardless of their score.

“We are committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and fairness,” he said. “Oyo State has earned a reputation for conducting credible examinations. We will not allow a few disgruntled elements to destroy that reputation.”

The SUBEB chairman’s statement has elicited mixed reactions. While some parents welcomed the assurance and praised the Board for its firm stance, others have demanded an independent investigation into the leakage claims to clear all doubts.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, also called for calm, urging its members who served as supervisors not to be distracted by the rumours. However, the union appealed to SUBEB to improve communication with stakeholders and address concerns more proactively in future examinations.

Education rights groups have warned that repeated allegations of leakage, whether proven or not, erode public trust in the state’s education system. They called on the government to invest more in digital examination systems, better remuneration for supervisors, and stricter penalties for those involved in examination malpractice.

The controversy comes at a time when Oyo State is trying to reposition itself as a leader in basic education in the Southwest. Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has invested heavily in school infrastructure, teacher training, and the school feeding programme. However, persistent concerns about examination integrity could undermine these gains if not properly managed.

SUBEB has promised to release the full results with detailed statistics within the next two weeks. The Board also said it would publish the names of any centres where malpractice was detected and the actions taken against those involved.

As parents anxiously await the results of their children, the denial by SUBEB and its threat of legal action against rumour peddlers may help restore some confidence. However, education watchers say only a transparent, timely, and credible release of results ,backed by strong evidence of integrity ,can fully resolve the current crisis of confidence.

For now, the Board’s firm response sends a clear message: Oyo SUBEB will not tolerate attempts to discredit its processes and is ready to defend the integrity of its examinations through both administrative and legal means.