The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has provided an explanation for involving the State Security Services (SSS) in the forgery allegation leveled against Ejikeme Mmesoma. The Nigerian examination body accused the Anambra-born student of manipulating her result in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring an impressive 362 points.
In a statement released on Sunday, JAMB went further to claim that Mmesoma had deliberately manipulated her result to deceive the public and fraudulently obtain a scholarship and other recognitions. As a result, the board not only banned her from participating in the UTME but also withdrew her 2023 results.
However, in a video that emerged on Monday, Miss Mmesoma vehemently denied the forgery allegations, asserting that she had merely printed her result from the JAMB website. She went on to reveal that she had been interrogated at the office of the State Security Services in the past.
Miss Mmesoma’s revelation stirred intense reactions on Twitter, with many users expressing bewilderment as to why JAMB involved the security agency in a case involving a minor. To address these concerns, JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, responded in a chat with The Cable.
Benjamin stated that the board involved the State Security Services to uncover the individuals behind Mmesoma’s actions. He explained that JAMB initially presumed that the student lacked the capacity to devise such a scheme, necessitating the involvement of the security agency in the investigation.
“The issue was reported to them (DSS) to find out those behind what she is doing. We thought she has no such capacity,” Benjamin remarked.
The involvement of the State Security Services in this forgery allegation demonstrates JAMB’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME and ensuring that individuals are held accountable for any fraudulent activities. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what further revelations will emerge and whether the allegations against Mmesoma will be substantiated or refuted.
