The credibility of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results for 2023 was shaken when the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) discovered fraudulent activities by certain candidates. One such case, causing a considerable stir, involves Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, who falsely announced herself as the top scorer in the examination. As the Board’s investigations further reveal, she manually inflated her result to unethically attract benefits, such as a N3 million scholarship from Innoson Motors and a planned recognition from the Anambra State government.
Clearing the Muddy Waters: JAMB’s Statement
In a recent statement, JAMB addressed the rising concerns over the integrity of UTME results due to the scandalous activities of candidates like Ejikeme. The Board expressed its distress over the multiple false results being paraded by several candidates. It disclosed that these candidates, who claimed to have obtained high scores, have used deceptive software packages to manipulate their results.
Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma was singled out as the most distressing case. She claimed to have scored 362 in the UTME, which led to her receiving a N3 million scholarship from Chief Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors. She was also set to be honoured by the Anambra State government. However, her claims were debunked when the government official contacted JAMB to verify her results. It was found that Ejikeme had only scored 249, far from her declared score of 362.
A Warning Against Deception: Further Cases
Beyond Ejikeme’s case, the Board also identified other fraudulent candidates. One such individual is Atung Gerald from Kaduna, who claimed to have scored 380 in the examination. His ethnic group had begun advocating for special recognition for him based on this score. However, JAMB revealed that Atung hadn’t even procured the UTME application documents, let alone sat the exam.
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The Board advised the public to cross-check any high-score claims with it to prevent honour being conferred on undeserving candidates. It further warned against fraudulent software that can fake exam results, which unscrupulous candidates are using to deceive the public and defraud well-meaning Nigerians.
The Consequences: JAMB’s Stand on Fraudulent Activity
Addressing the ramifications of Ejikeme’s fraudulent activities, the Board declared that it would withdraw her result and subject her to prosecution. They appreciate the actions of individuals like Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, who aim to celebrate and foster academic excellence. However, the Board emphasizes the need for such benefactors to confirm the authenticity of candidates’ results with the Board to avoid promoting dishonest behavior.
Ejikeme, in her deception, had requested her UTME result from the Board’s platform, manipulated it, and then pasted it on a 2022 UTME result sheet, falsely assuming that the design remained unchanged for the 2023 UTME.
Forward-Looking: Commitment to Integrity
JAMB affirmed its commitment to preserving the integrity of the UTME results. It announced plans to scrutinize all candidates who claim to have higher scores than actually obtained. If found guilty of manipulation, their original results would be withdrawn, and they would face legal prosecution. The Board aims to deter such unethical behaviour and uphold the validity and reputation of the examination process. The recent events serve as a stern reminder to all stakeholders in the educational sector that integrity and authenticity should not be compromised under any circumstance.
