The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) claimed that Mmesoma Ejikeme, a student at the Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, received a fake exam result, but the Anambra State Government has refuted this claim.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu, the inquiry was still ongoing when JAMB declared the results to be fraudulent in a press release.
In a statement made public on Wednesday, Nwosu said that the girl and her school came to him to explain that she had received a 362 although the highest score, according to JAMB, was a 360.
He said that when the Commissioner for Education intervened, the Department of State Services (DSS) was contacted to investigate, but the board rejected Mmesoma’s conclusions before the investigation was finished.
He also noted that a full investigation had been launched, naming the members of the committee to include: Prof. Nkemdili Nnonyelu (Chairman), Prof. Mercy Okonkwo – member, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh – member, Prof. Maduabuchi Dukor – member, Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo – member, Rev. Sr. Prof. Mary-Felicia Opara – member, Rev. Cannon Dr. Uchenna Umeifekwem – member, and Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (MD, Anambra Information Communication Technology Agency) – member.
Nwosu said, “Anambra State Government has, for obvious reasons, been following the JAMB/Mmesoma Ejike matter with keen interest.
“It’s important to note that Miss Mmesoma Ejike went to the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh with her UTME result to protest that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (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.”