Why JAMB barred Mmesoma

More insights came out yesterday why the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) decided to bar the candidate of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Mmesoma Ejikeme, who was accused of inflating her 2023 UTME score. The Board had in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, claimed that the student scored 249 in her result. But Mmesoma, stood her ground, saying she scored 362 out of the total marks of 400.

Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, had described the result being flaunted by Mmesoma as obsolete.

“The Board would like to reassure Nigerians that its system was neither tampered with nor compromised as the candidate simply falsified a copy of a result slip of a candidate named ‘Asimiyu Mariam Omobolanle,’ who sat for UTME in 2021 and scored 138.

“It is also instructive to note that the candidate, in her statement, has inadvertently revealed the rightful owner of the result she is parading when she pointed out that the QR code on the result slip showed the actual owner of the said result before she peddled a lie in an attempt to obfuscate the truth,” Benjamin said.

Commenting on a video in which Mmesoma defended herself amid the raging controversy, the JAMB spokesman said: “If you look at her posture—look at the video very well—if you look at the video critically, you will see that somebody is coaching her on what to say. Just sit down and look at the video she posted.”

However, a source in JAMB told The Nation that the candidate and three others were discovered to have perpetrated the “act” (the forgery). The other offenders, according to the source, “decided to disappear” when confronted with foolproof facts. It was gathered by our correspondent that Mmesoma and “her collaborators” decided to confront the board’s declaration that she had forged result for claiming she scored 362.

JAMB, therefore, barred Mmesoma from sitting the Board’s examination for the next three years over the alleged forgery. The candidate was recently celebrated and awarded a N3 million scholarship by Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company, for her “performance in the JAMB exam.

JAMB had, however, on Sunday, issued a statement to refute the claims, saying that the result being paraded by Mmesoma, making her the highest scorer in the UTME, was manipulated and that her actual score was 249.

‘Why the Board wedge a few of its sanctions’

To serve as a deterrent to others, the source said the board decided to wedge a few of its sanctions by barring her for three years and withdrawing her result. According to the source, the girl is 19-year-old and she must know the consequence of her actions.

The source told The Nation: “I used to tell people that Nigeria is in the Third World. JAMB is in the first world with technology to the extent that when JAMB is having examinations, its officials can monitor the proceedings from their office and what is happening at the other CBT centres. They also can monitor every computer they are using, and how the students are writing their exams right from the office. JAMB can monitor all the 1.6 million people that did the exam. JAMB does not have any course whatsoever to give someone else’s score to another. All the N3 million they gave to the girl is nothing to JAMB with the huge money JAMB gives to the government.

“All the ethnic dimensions that are been put into it, JAMB is above that. The JAMB Director of Information Technology in charge of the exam and how they release results is an Igbo man, named Fabian Okoro. JAMB is so thorough that they cannot make the mistake of giving someone results to another.

“The girl that claimed she got 362 is not the only person who has done that, but the others didn’t take it this far. Those who are helping the girl to amplify the matter will be ashamed when JAMB releases the details they have, how they went about with the criminal act.

“Those who are dragging the case want the girl to go to jail because all relevant agencies will be invited to find out. It cannot be lied about because her script is with JAMB. And the way they mark whether two plus two equals four is there. Therefore, those who are dragging just want to destroy the girl’s life.

“I remember the case of a retired judge of the Supreme Court from one of the Southsouth states. He came with his child. We did not ask more than one or two questions before the child confessed to his father how they did it. JAMB cannot be wrong. JAMB is different from the other agencies of government in terms of how they handle things. They are one of the few agencies that if they do system upgrade, they will train in-house hackers just to abuse it to make it impregnable. They will first test it with their hackers who are trained all over the world like Russia, the United States, China, etc.

“So, when JAMB is talking, those who are arguing with them are either doing it out of mischief or ignorance or both. This is because there is nothing JAMB wants to gain from all this. If the lady has been right, JAMB would have said, ‘we are sorry’.

“Oloyede has said JAMB has concluded its investigation into it. As they are dragging it with JAMB, they will be releasing the evidence that will be damaging to the future of the girl.

“The way the person in JAMB is working I cannot say this is how he is working. And those who are working with me will say at least I am above average as a human. Even though I work 24 hours per day, but the man working in JAMB works always. Why would they want to drag with her what is not necessary?”

Oloyede: we have nothing to discuss again about Mmesoma

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, when contacted by The Nation yesterday morning, said the Board is used to Mmesoma’s and her collaborators’ antics. He insisted that JAMB had concluded its investigations into the result forgery.

“The case is an everyday occurrence and it has always been treated. Even tomorrow, there will be many of them. There is an app; you can buy the app and see how it works. We have reported to the security agents.

“There is nothing to discuss. We have many serious matters to handle in JAMB than discussing this. As far as we are concerned, we took the matter up and dealt with it as quick as possible. I think if the lady is interviewed properly, she will confess who did the forgery for her. It’s a simple matter and it has nothing to do with JAMB. People are just celebrating criminality. It is a non-issue; we don’t have to waste time on it. The app for creating such result is online; anybody who wants to see how it works can download it. We have a system that will make it impossible for us to be fooled. I’m attending to some other serious matters somewhere. You can contact me next time and let’s discuss serious matters. “

Before yesterday, Oloyede had said the Board had concluded investigations into the case. He said: “The truth is that JAMB has concluded the investigation on Mmesoma’s score falsification matter. She was not the only one caught, just that others have chosen not to go out.

“At present, there is an industry faking results and, unfortunately, they cannot penetrate JAMB system, reasons being that (our) system is fool-proofed and we will prove it any time. It is unfortunate that parents and some of the candidates that are being fooled are not aware that they are only being fooled.

“There is internal evidence to show that the change in Ejikeme’s scores was done with her collaboration.There are certain features pertaining to her that only she knows, unless she makes it available to somebody else. They couldn’t have increased her scores on her behalf.”

The registrar said he had earlier spoken with a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, on Mmesoma’s matter, and told her that it was a high-level scam

“We improved on our facilities this year, so Ejikeme and her collaborators are still living in the past,” he added.

I now realise my UTME score is 249, says Mmesoma

The candidate yesterday during a television programme said she has realised her score is 249, not 362. She said this in an interview with Channels Television and Sunrise Daily programme.

The Board’s Spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, had earlier alleged that Miss Ejikeme had sent series of messages to the Board’s Automated Telecoms System, including the results showing an aggregate of 362.

In response, Ejikeme said the only SMS she sent to JAMB was through its support system. She also confirmed she used an Airtel line, but not through the USSD code.

“That’s the only SMS I sent there. They didn’t reply. If they check their JAMB Support System, they would see that I sent a text message. They didn’t reply. The one I checked through the USSD code is the one of 360 that I saw,” she said.

In reaction to the claim that the feedback from JAMB showed her score as 249, she said: “Yes. After all was said and done, I now saw that I got 249. I sent them a text message there to know what really happened — the JAMB Support System. If they go to their system, they will see it there.”

Her submission alluded to Oloyede’s claim that Nigerians will be shocked if the Board decides to reveal the details of the “forgery” perpetrated by Mmesoma. Oloyede noted that the result paraded by Ejikeme was the template for a student who sat UTME two years ago.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin said: “If you scan the code, the candidate’s result will show. So, I can say emphatically that the girl is parading a fake result. It is either she is being duped, or she is part of a syndicate manufacturing purported JAMB results.

“There are security features on our results, so I can emphasise that the girl is just trying to deceive the public. Her result is completely fake. Her claim that she printed the result from our site is a lie, and totally incorrect. If we should reveal all that we know, people will be shocked. So, if people are looking for short cuts to achieve an end, that is what would happen.”

JAMB said the matter has nothing to do with its system, saying nobody hacked into its system and that the result did not emanate from its system.

Soludo sets up eight-member committee of six professors

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has set up eight -member committee to investigate the alleged forgery saga.

The committee consists of six professors, one Rev. Sister and another member in the state. They are Prof. Nkemdilim Nnonyelu, as chairman, Prof. Mercy Okonkwo, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Prof. Maduabuchi Dukor and Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo.

Other members are Rev Sr, Prof Mary-Felicia Opara. Rev Cannon Dr. Uxhenna Umeifekwem and Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital by Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, the state government said it for obvious reasons been following the JAMB-Mmesoma Ejike matter with keen interest.

According to the government, “It’s important to note that Miss Mmesoma Ejike went to the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh with her UTME result to protest that the JAMB didn’t recognise her as the candidate with the highest score.

“The commissioner in turn called JAMB to confirm her claim but she was told that Mmesoma’s result was forged. It was at this point that JAMB authorities invited the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and make its findings known.

“This was yet to happen when JAMB went public with the matter, thus eliciting the raucous conversations we’ve seen in the media. It is not our wish to join the slanging match or take sides at this stage. But as a responsible government, we have decided to undertake an independent investigation into the matter.

“In the light of the above, the Anambra State Government has set up a committee of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the JAMB-Mmesoma matter.”

The statement added that the findings of the committee would be made public after conclusion.

How row deepened over alleged forgery

Mmesoma, who was accused by JAMB of forging her result to emerge the highest scorer, is not seeking legal redress, her father Romanus Ejikeme said on Tuesday.

Mr. Ejikeme refuted media reports that his daughter had dragged JAMB to court, demanding N20 billion for alleged misrepresentation of facts.

He insisted that the 362 score presented by Mmesoma was her authentic result, and rejected any other score from the exam body.

Describing JAMB’s conduct in the allegation as unfortunate, Ejikeme insisted that his family had left the matter to God who alone could grant them justice.

“They should stop defending themselves and tell the whole world the truth,” Ejikeme told The Nation.

Ejikeme said: “I’m a commercial motorcyclist but majorly a musician. We moved to Nnewi three years ago from Oba. But my daughter did her primary school in Ogbunike Central School, where she was topping her class till she moved over to Oba where she still maintained first position.

According to him, Mmesoma was not only brilliant, but also modest.

“The 362 score she got is what she saw in the SMS sent to her by JAMB, after sending her code to the portal. That’s the same score she had been parading for over two months before this controversy came up.”

Describing JAMB’s delay in releasing “the authentic results” of the highest scorer as deliberate, Ejikeme urged the exam body to come clean.

“The new score they’re claiming my daughter got is not her result. Unfortunately, the same people that were supposed to offer her an award for coming out tops are pulling her down.”

Stakeholders have called for an independent tech investigation into the allegation.

School principal expresses surprise

Also, Mrs. Uchekwukwu Edum, principal of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, where Miss Ejikeme is studying, expressed surprise at the announcement discrediting her score.

She said the school was still awaiting the outcome of a detailed investigation by DSS, when the news of the alleged forgery was broken on Sunday.

She said: “We’ve been at DSS to make statements, and waiting for investigation. I was surprised that no one heard from us, only for JAMB to make announcement discrediting our student.

“All I can tell you is that we were in school when they (students) were scratching and checking their results. The first person had 295, another person had 265, and so on. We were still on it when Mmesoma came and brought her own result, and it was 362, and we requested that she brings evidence and when she did, we rejoiced with her.

“So, later we heard that there was someone (from another school) who got 360, and that she was the highest, so we had to call the education secretary in the diocese. Our school is a mission school, so we decided there was a need to reach out to the commissioner on this. So, the commissioner called JAMB, and they said there was no such thing, and that was confusion number one.

“Later, DSS got involved in the matter, and I had to go there to make a statement, and I told them just the same thing I told you now, about the checking of the results.The girl (Mmesoma) also wrote a statement about how she checked her result, and DSS said they would investigate the matter to know where the discrepancies lie, and that was all that I heard.

“You also know that our SSS3 set are not in school now. They were given break to go home and return by next week for NECO. The way the matter is now, we may not wait until when they return.”

JAMB’s highest score 16-yr-old Umeh Nkechinyere Precious revealed

As the controversy continued, the management of Deeper Life High School celebrated their students on Monday, for achieving impressive scores above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Miss Umeh Nkechinyere Precious emerged as the top scorer with an outstanding mark of 360, making her the highest achiever in the 2023 UTME.

Nkechinyere, 16, shared her strategy for achieving such remarkable results with reporters.

She said: “When I got home, I mainly focused on revising past questions using the series that I had. My parents were very supportive and encouraged me to study. They always emphasised the importance of reading.

“It was my first UTME, and I am also awaiting my WAEC results as I also took that exam this year. I have applied to the University of Lagos, and I aspire to study Chemical Engineering.

“I never aimed to be the highest scorer; everyone wants to be the best. I feel very excited and grateful to all my supporters and encouragers.”

Her mother, Mrs. Umeh, also shared her thoughts on her daughter’s success.

She highlighted Nkechinyere’s consistent excellence, dating back to her primary school days at the University of Lagos Women Society College Nursery and Primary School. Mrs. Umeh said: “The school provided an excellent foundation for her. In fact, at one point, I decided that all my children should attend the school because of the solid foundation it offers.”

‘Why police not probing matter’

Reacting, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said the matter had not been reported to the police in the state.

“We are not aware of the case. So, I can’t comment on the issue,” Tochukwu stated.

‘Oloyede must apologise, says lawyer

A lawyer, Chief Johnmary Maduakolam, has asked the JAMB Registrar to apologise to Mmesoma over accusations of faking UMTE result or face legal action.

He said he was shocked to read from the media a circular issued by Benjamin on behalf of JAMB, accusing the girl of faking UMTE result to curry favour from unsuspecting philanthropists.

He said: “By that publication, JAMB under your watch defamed the poor girl, exposed her to public opprobrium and most especially failed to discharge its duty to the girl child under the Child’s Right Act.

“Paradoxically, information available in the media strongly suggests that JAMB and not the poor girl is culpable of dishing out fake results, but even if the girl forged her result, the law affords her some protection as a child in the circumstance.

“Sequel to the above, I hereby request your good self on her behalf to retract forthwith the malicious publication made against the child, tender an unreserved apology to her and take steps to ensure the trauma your conduct caused is cushioned immediately.”

The United Kingdom-trained lawyer warned that if the JAMB Registrar refused to harken to his demands, for the welfare of the child, he would drag him to court and that the Registrar would bear the cost.

NAPTAN: it’s unfortunate

Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, described the whole issue as ‘unfortunate’ since her parents came out to defend her.

“It’s rather unfortunate because the parents also came out to defend her. However, it’s a sad one for education, if one cannot start forging UTME results. Well, we have nothing against that, but it will serve as a deterrent to others.

“You see technology has its downside, and that’s why one was able to penetrate into the server. So, if an improvement is being done and punishment properly meted out, it will deter them from doing it again.

“Parents should desist from any form of criminality, try to ensure that they stand by the truth all the time, and not support such.

“JAMB should try to improve on their technology such that it will prevent hackers from penetrating into their server.

Also, they should try to deploy latest technology to ensure their website is not hacked.”

‘System overhaul crucial’

President Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Emmanuel Orji, said: “At this point, said commenting on this kind of matter could be preposterous knowing that the matter has been handed over to the security agencies.

“However, it’s important that Nigeria overhauls the system not only JAMB, but also other institutions of national interest to forestall is kind of happening because the same organisation was involved in similar story in 2021, when a student was also accused of a similar incident. It was also in this same institution that snake swallowed money, if I am right.

“Yes, we may have our difficulties as a developing nation, but we can as well keep very low those images sinking development.

“JAMB should begin internal overhaul and system support projects. Each candidate should be able to confirm his or her result from more than one source. I am sure discrepancies would have been addressed instead of this level of embarrassment. I hope Ejikeme comes clean, but it could be avoided.”

Okebukola warns against discrediting thoroughness of JAMB exams

Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola, one time executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), yesterday called on Nigerians to promote JAMB’s thoroughness, rather that discredit it.

According to him, discrediting the effort of the examination body can be detrimental to the growth of the entire education system.

Okebukola made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the alleged fake result being paraded by Miss Joy Ejikeme.

According to him, there is hanky-panky of the result she obtained at the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Okebukola said: “The findings from my usually-reliable sources confirm that there is some hanky-panky with the results which Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma claimed to have obtained in the 2023 UTME.

“I think many people are unaware of the thoroughness of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede in promoting the integrity of JAMB-conducted examinations.

“He loves all candidates and will stop at nothing to ensure that unadulterated results are published and duly qualified candidates are admitted to our tertiary institutions based on existing vacancies.

“On the other hand, he will also stop at nothing to penalise any centre or candidate whose integrity will tarnish the image of JAMB. You cannot get away with bad practice with Prof. Oloyede.

“He is globally-acclaimed as a leading light in higher education in Africa. The indisputable facts that I have pointed to my advising the candidate to subject herself to the decision of JAMB,” Okebukola said.

Truce at last?

But, with the candidate confirming yesterday during a television programme that she has realised her score is 249, not 362, the country may soon see an end to the forgery saga.