The Anambra State Government has distanced itself from claims by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that the result of Mmesoma Ejikeme, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, is fake.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu said the investigation was still ongoing when JAMB issued a press release stating the result is fake.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nwosu said the student and her school came to him to say she got 362, while JAMB recognized someone who scored 360 as the highest scorer.
He said the Commissioner for Education intervened, but the board involved the Department of States Services (DSS) to investigate but made disclaimed Mmesoma’s result before the investigation was concluded.
He said 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.
“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,” Nwosu said.
