From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has maintained that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result being paraded by Miss Mmesomma Ejikeme Joy, who claimed the highest score in the 2023 exercise is fake.
JAMB, in a statement, said that it is used to such allegations, asking Nigerians and its critics to expect “apologies” from the candidate after she might have been taken through the process, and proof provided to back the claim that the result she was parading was fake.
The Board, however, made reference to similar situations in the past, and a particular case in 2021 in which it was dragged to court by a candidate, John Chinedu Ifesinachi, who threatened to sue for N2 billion damages, only for him and his Counsel to tender unreserved apology when the candidate eventually confessed his crime in the face of incontrovertible facts in an open investigation observed by several national public institutions including the Public Complaints Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, Servicom and media houses.”
Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, in the statement, confirmed that the case of Mmesomma Ejikeme Joy has been handed over to relevant security agencies for a thorough investigation to unravel the masterminds of the scam.
He maintained that the Board is not averse to public scrutiny and is ready for an open public session involving the agencies listed above as well as relevant security agencies where the candidate, her parents/guardian and her legal team will be present.
He also said the Board was, however, concerned with the frightening dimension to the unfolding drama, particularly the unwholesome interest of some “nefarious elements”, who to all intents and purposes, are determined to drive the candidate on the unproductive path as any casual observer would observe with the obviously stage-managed video aired by Ms. Ejikeme.
He urged them to have a rethink, insisting that the truth about the whole situation would soon come to light, thus restating the readiness of the Board for genuine scrutiny.
“This case is not the first time and might not even be the last. At the end of the day, the truth will manifest and the Board vindicated.”
He, however, confirmed that the management of JAMB has withdrawn the 2023 UTME result of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, and also barred her from sitting the Board’s examination for the next three years.