JAMB: Anambra Govt indicts Mmesoma of forgery, as highest-scoring candidate, Umeh gets N2.5m

Panel constituted by the Anambra State Government to probe allegations of forgery and fraud leveled against Miss Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded its findings, indicting the student for the alleged offences.

Miss Ejikeme is a student of a 19 year old student of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi, in Anambra State, was accused by JAMB of falsifying her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result from the original 249 to 362.

Mmesoma from Enugu State had severally denied the allegations when she appeared on television and through press statements, before eventually confessing to the panel her role in falsifying the figures, in a scandal which set opinions apart as Nigerians were divided in their positions.

This is also as a private company has awarded N2.5 million cash prize to the JAMB-certified and authentic candidate who scored the highest mark in the 2023 UMTE, a student of Deeper Life High School, Mowe, Ogun state, identified as Nkechinyere Kamsiyochukwu Umeh, with a score of 360.

Meanwhile, an 8-page report submitted by the Anambra Government Committee after its findings, said it discovered that the suspect changed her UTME result after she openly confessed to doing so.

Mmesoma who had been the centre of controversy, had claimed she scored a total of 362 in the examination, contrary to the real score sent to her by JAMB.

The full Committee report said Mmesoma had attempted forging her results four times through the JAMB portal with fake registration numbers inputed.

The committee reported that ‘the results paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with 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 data.’

The committee further listed the various attempts made by the girl, just as it concluded that Mmesoma ‘should undergo a psychological counselling and therapy.’

This also as the committee recommended that Mmesoma should tender ‘an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi) and the Anambra State Government. This should be done immediately.’

In a related development, a company has presented a student of Deeper Life High School, Mowe, Ogun state, Nkechinyere Kamsiyochukwu Umeh, with a cash gift of N2.5m for being the highest scorer in the 2023 UTME.

Chief Executive Officer and President of Erisco Foods Limited, Dr. Eric Umeofia, who gave Umeh the cash gift,  Friday, July 7, also rewarded the school administrator, the four subject teachers, and two other best students of the school with various cash gifts.

Umeh scored 99 in Chemistry, 98 in Mathematics, 97 in Physics, and 66 in English Language to emerge as the 2023 UTME top scorer with a score of 360.

JAMB had earlier announced the Best Student in 2023 UTME as Miss Umeh with a total score of 360 achieved in the 2023 UTME, Saturday, June 24.

Nkechinyere emerged as the best candidate after she scored 360.

“Pastor Kumuyi Is my greatest role model,” 2023 JAMB top scorer, Kamsiyochukwu shares her journey to success.

Umeh Nkechinyere said her school, Deeper Life High School, was highly involved in her preparation for the JAMB examination.

Below the full report released by the Anambra Government Panel of Investigation into Mmesoma/JAMB scandal.

7thJuly, 2023

Prof. C.C Soludo, Governor, Anambra State.

Mr. Governor

,

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EJIKEME JOY MMESOMA’S JAMB SCORE CONTROVERSY

Recall Mr. Governor that with the recent release of scores of candidates who applied for admission by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and subsequent announcement of Nkechiyere Umeh as the candidate with the highest score of 360, Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, a 19 year old student of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi, from Enugu State, protested to the State Government that she scored 362 and ought to have been so recognised.

This has elicited interests and generated serious controversy and misgivings among the general public that the State Government in its wisdom decided to constitute a Committee of Inquiry to look into the underlisted terms of reference; Review Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB Results and associated documents.

Conduct interviews with relevant parties, including Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, JAMB Officials and any other individual(s) involved in the Ill. Provide recommendations based on the findings of the investigation.

The Committee invited Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, and officials of JAMB for interactive session with the Committee. JAMB officials led by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Head Public Affairs presented the detailed processes and procedures involved in JAMB admissions, the policy changes that have occurred in the release of UTME scores since 2021 and what specifically transpired between the candidate – Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with registration number: 20230639047FF in her quest to obtain her JAMB score.

JAMB revealed the different times that Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma made several requests to JAMB portal asking for her results at different hours, and each of these times (four in number), she received in her phone, same results from JAMB indicating candidate’s UTME Results to w”it: Eng: 64, Phy:54, Bio: 74, Che: 57 with a total aggregate score of 249. JAMB disclosed that the candidate was well informed of her correct score from JAMB. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had sent a request to JAMB with a different registration number showing a UTME result of aggregate score of 362, with Eng: 98, Phy: 89, Bio: 94, and Che: 81. The results she sent differed substantially from the standard JAMB format where she got an appropriate rebuttal stating her real score of 249.

Besides, a number of red-flags was also highlighted by JAMB officials showin_ga different date of birth, different Registration Number, Notification of results template that has been discarded since 2021, amongst others. It was also evident that even the centre name “Nkemefuna Foundation (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development as it was known before now) used for the examination was also manipulated where the candidate used the old name of the centre (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development) in her own manipulated result sheet.

In Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s submission, she owned up in the presence of her principal, and the Education Secretary that the narration by the JAMB officials was a true and correct description of what transpired. She also admitted to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone Airtel Number. According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafe (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi) where she printed the results she had manipulated.

The Committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma said NOTHING.

In their own submissions, the Principal Anglican Girls’ Secondary school, Uruagu Nnewi, and the Education Secretary – Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion) expressed shock at what transpired where in their presence, Mmesoma admitted to have manipulated her UTME results, deceiving the school, her immediate family and the State Government.

COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS

The results released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is 249.

The results paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with 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 data.

Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma 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 Mmesoma.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma tenders an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi) and the Anambra State Government. This should be done immediately.

EJikeme Joy Mmesoma should undergo a psychological counselling and therapy.

All prospective candidates for JAMB Admission should adhere strictly to guidelines processes and procedures of the examination body.

CONCLUSION

The Committee of Inquiry commends Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for their diligent handling of the matter and the information supplied about the interface with the candidate (see attached). We hope that this unearthing of the truth as we have discovered will go a long way in correcting the sentiments, misconceptions and deceptions that have been in the public domain.

Finally, we thank Mr. Governor for setting up this Committee, and, for the confidence reposed in the committee.

Initial Evidences below:

Al QR and BAR Code Information in the presented result

11231597AC

Asimiyu Mariam Bolanle Score 138

A2 Number Portal (Latest information at top, earliest at bottom)

2349042181632

Request: UTMERESULT

Response:

Dear Ejikcmc Joy Mmcsoma, Reg Number: 202330639047FF. Your 2023 UTME Rcsuh: ENG: 64, PHY: 54, BIO: 74, CHE: 57, Aggregate: 249

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-06-25 15:04:23.104

Time Responded:

2023-06-25 15:04:23.675

Request: UTME

Response:

Wrong Panimctcr 2349042181632 Passed. Send HELP 10 55019 or 66019

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-05-09 00:11:36.390

Ti m e R e s pond e d:

2023-05-09 00:11:37.140

Request:

Dear P.jikcmc Joy Mmcsoma, Reg Number: 202330639047EE. Your 2023 UTME Result: ENG: 98 PHY: 89 BIO: 94 CHE: 81 Aggrcgatc:362

R es p o nse:

Dear Ejikemc Joy Mmesoma, Reg Number: 202330639047FF. Your 2023 UTME Result: ENG: 64, PHY: 54, 810: 74, CHE: 57, Aggregate: 249

Response.Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-05-04 12:20:50.373

Time Responded:

2023-05-04 12:20:50.887

Request: UTME result

Response:

Dear Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, Reg Number: 202330639047FF. Your 2023 UTME Result ENG: 64, PHY: 54, BIO: 74, CH£: 57, Aggregate: 249

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-05-04 10:37:01.982

Time Responded:

2023-05-04 10:37:02.536

Request:

Utme result

Response:

Dear Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, Reg Number: 202330639047FF.

Your 2023

UTME Result is not released yet

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-04-30 15:12:10.669

Time Responded:

2023-04-30 IS:12:11.274

Request:

NIN 24980760479

Response:

Dear Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma.

Your Profile Code: 1449245855 and NIN: 24980760479.

Visit www.jamb.gov.ng,

Quick Links, then lBASS for: Back Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma 4th… v

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-02-0113:10:33.618

Time Responded:

2023-02·0113:10:34.895

Request:

NIN 24980760479

Response:

No record found. Send email with NIN and Name to nimc­ jamb2023@nimc.gov.ng,

Then try again in 4 hours.

Response Error:

Ok

Network: aincl

Time Requested:

2023-01-28 09:47:45.917

Time Responded:

2023-01-28 09:47:46.721

Request:

24980760479

Response:

Wrong Parameter 2349042181632 Passed. Send HELP to 55019 or 66019

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-01-28 09:16:08.731

Time Responded:

2023-01-28 09:16:09.302

Request:

NIN 24980760479

Response:

No record found. Send email with NIN and Name to nimc­ jamb202 l@nimc.gov.ng.

Then try again in 4 hours.

Response Error: Ok

Network: airtel

Time Requested:

2023-01-25 09:17:09.7

Time Responded:

2023-01-25 09:17: I0.157