The Anambra student accused of using a fake university admission result to emerge the highest performing candidate in the country has admitted tampering with her scores, a government report says, days after the student claimed she did nothing wrong.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said last week Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Uruagu Nnew) illegally changed her scores in the UMTE from 249 to 362. The board imposed a three-year ban on the student as a disbelieving public called for a full and independent investigation.
A report released by a panel set up by the Anambra state government to investigate the matter was released late Friday with damning revelations. According to the report, the student admitted her result was fake and that she worked unaided to change the scores.
“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,” the report said.
“She also admitted to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using the same phone Airtel Number.”
– Traumatic
The case has been a trending topic on social media in the week. JAMB said after it sent the student her accurate results for her university admissions exams, Ejikeme used an app to overwrite the scores.
In a video posted on Monday on social media, the student displayed a copy of a result sheet and insisted her result was authentic and said “traumatized” by JAMB’s claims.
The Anambra government launched a probe after halting its initial plan to honour the student for being recording the highest scores in the country.
Despite the investigation, crypto entrepreneur Gaius Chibueze, popularly called Bitcoin Chief, promised to fund the student’s education to postgraduate level in the U.S., Canada and UK.
– No motive
The eight-member panel headed by Nkemdili Nnonyelu, a professor, said Ejikeme accepted did not say why she acted the way she did.
“The Committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma said NOTHING,” it said.
“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.”
The committee recommended that the student apologise to JAMB and the state government and be given psychological counselling and therapy.
– Former minister speaks
Former education minister Oby Ezekwesili, who initially criticised JAMB’s handling of the case and called for an independent probe, welcomed the findings.
“I am satisfied with the process and findings of their investigation which gave Mmesoma fair hearing to enable the Committee gather all facts,” she said in a statement.
“Mmesoma’s action has consequences. I therefore support the sanctions imposed by JAMB as a deterrent to all who participate in the systemic exam malpractices within our educational system.”
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