The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB says the report of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Anambra State Government, an independent and unbiased body, as demanded by some Nigerians to look into the Nmesoma saga, has vindicated the Board.
A statement by the Acting Director, Public Affairs of JAMB Dr Fabian Benjamin explains that the outcome has further reinforced the position of the Board that its system was not and cannot be compromised.
According to the statement, the Board has built a reputation in terms of the conduct of credible examinations over the years and cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical juncture of its development.
Dr Benjamin notes that the board will not despair in spite of the painful realisation that some Nigerians would do anything to cast aspersions on the good name of the Board.
Dr Benjamin warns candidates to stay away from fraudulent Apps that promise to enhance their scores as the end result would always be anguish and misery.
It adds that the Nmesoma case should serve as an eye-opener especially to those who hold the view that anything goes in Nigeria.
Earlier, a panel of inquiry set up by the Anambra State Government confirmed that Nmesoma Ejikeme manipulated her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result, where she actually scored 249 as against 362.
The eight-page report of the panel also recommended that Mmesoma immediately tender an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the school (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi), and the state government and should undergo psychological counselling and therapy.
The eight-member panel was set up by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday to investigate the ongoing controversy between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Nmesoma, whose UTME result has come under controversy, with the mandate of making its findings public.
Nmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, had sat for the UTME in May and came under scrutiny for parading the “highest score” of 362, which JAMB later revealed was manipulated.
The panel report, also circulating online, was addressed to the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and made available by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu on Friday.
The panel said it conducted interviews with relevant parties, including Mmesoma, JAMB officials and other individual(s) involved in the process as well as the principal of Anglican Girls Secondary School.
According to the panel, Mmesoma had sent a request to JAMB with a different registration number showing a UTME result of an aggregate score of 362, with Eng: 98, Phy: 89, Bio: 94, and Che: 81 which differed substantially from the standard JAMB format where she got an appropriate rebuttal stating her real score of 249.
The panel indicated in its findings that “the results released by the JAMB with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is 249.
“The result paraded by Ejikeme Joy Nmesoma with an aggregate score of 362 is fake as buttressed by the very significant and instructive variations in the registration number, date of birth, centre name and other infractions.
“Ejikeme Joy Nmesoma admitted that she manipulated the fake results herself, using her phone.
“The Principal, Anglican Girls’ Secondary School — Mrs Edu Uche and the Education Secretary, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion) expressed dismay at the conduct of Ejikeme Joy Nmesoma.”
The report, titled, “Report of the committee on Ejikeme Joy Nmesoma’s JAMB score controversy” also indicated that the candidate was well informed of her correct score of 249.