House of Representatives has directed JAMB to hands off from Mmesoma Ejikeme matter as it resolved to set up an Adhoc Committee to investigate the alleged manipulation of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admission And Matriculation Board.
The house also direct JAMB to suspend further actions on the matter until Investigation is concluded.
This was sequel to a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency of Rivers state., Awaji-Inombek Abiante,
The motion reads: “The House notes that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is primarily charged with
the general control of the conduct of Matriculation Examinations for admissions into Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
Also that graduating Secondary School leavers and others with prerequisite WAEC, NECO and other qualifying results apply to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
every year to gain admission into Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
“Further notes that students who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) are expected to log into the JAMB portal to check their results once released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board;
Aware that Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi,
Anambra State sat for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and scored 362.
Also aware that on 2 July, 2023 JAMB, Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin made a public pronouncement accusing Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma of manipulating her UTME results that she actually scored 249 instead of the 362 as claimed.
“Further aware that Miss. Ejikeme Mmesoma came out to defend herself, that she actually printed the result from the JAMB Buncharitable and had been a brilliant child all through her Nursery and Tertiary education, coming first in all the Examinations she has been taken before the UTME, hence she posited that she is not capable of manipulating her UTME
result.
Cognizant of the fact that uploading or downloading result of examinations or polls electronically, in Nigeria, glitches can occur at any time, hence the need to establish the facts before any blames;
Worried that Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB Head of Public Affairs and Protocol alleged that some of the 2023 UTME Candidates are parading fake scores in order to get undue advantage from the public, hence the need to investigate the allegation.
Contributing to the motion Rep Iduma Igariwey commended the mover of the motion, as they believe it is timely and call for a thorough investigation of the allegation against Miss Mmesoma.
Rep. Iduma Igariwey said there should be an investigation to know if the young lady was manipulated and the investigation would reveal if JAMB had a structural issue.
According to him, the inventory will reveal all that happened so that things does not continue that way
Ademorin Kuye (APC Lagos) stated that” We must prove the innocence on the part of the girl and at the same time we must presume that JAMB has acted in pursuant to the law establishing them”.
Rep. Ugonna Ozuruigbo (PDP Imo) said that it is shameful that the board is discussing authenticity of it’s results with a student.
“I was privy to see a video where a lady was demonstrating how you can manipulate JAMB results. Is it that JAMB website is so porous. It is shameful that the body will be dragging the authenticity of their own result with a student”.
The house adopted the motion and mandated the Adhoc Committee to report back within one (1) weeks for further legislative action.