The panel of inquiry set up by the Anambra State Government to investigate the controversy surrounding the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result of Mmesoma Ejikeme has confirmed that she manipulated her score from 249 to 362.
The panel, in its eight-page report, also recommended that Mmesoma should tender an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, her school (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi), and the state government, and should undergo psychological counselling and therapy.
The panel, which comprised eight members, was set up by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday, following the claim by Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, that she scored 362 in the UTME in May, which JAMB later debunked as fake.
The panel report, which was addressed to the governor and made available by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu on Friday, said it conducted interviews with relevant parties, including Mmesoma, JAMB officials and other individuals 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 Chem: 81 which differed substantially from the standard JAMB format. She received a reply from JAMB stating her real score of 249.
The panel stated in its findings that “the results released by JAMB with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma are 249.
“The result paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma 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 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.”
The report, titled, “Report of the committee on Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB score controversy” also indicated that Mmesoma was well aware of her correct score of 249.
It read in part, “Recall Mr Governor that with the recent release of scores of candidates who applied for admission by JAMB and subsequent announcement of Nkechiyere Umeh as the candidate with the highest score of 360, Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma protested to the state government that she scored 362 and ought to have been so recognised.
“This has elicited interest 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 under-listed terms of reference; review Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB results and associated documents.
“Conduct interviews with relevant parties, including Mmesoma, JAMB officials and any other individual(s) involved in the process. Provide recommendations based on the findings of the investigation. “The committee invited Mmesoma, the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, and officials of JAMB for an interactive session with the Committee.
“JAMB officials led by Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Head of 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 JAMB and Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma.”
The panel also disclosed that JAMB officials revealed a number of red flags that showed Mmesoma’s result was fake, such as a different date of birth, different registration number, and notification of results template that has been discarded since 2021, among 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 having given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using the same phone Airtel number.
“According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafé (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 of 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.”
The panel commended JAMB for their diligent handling of the matter and the information supplied about the interface with the candidate.
“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,” it added.
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