The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said the report of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Anambra State Government to look into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result of Mmesoma Ejikeme has vindicated it.

This was disclosed in a statement made by the board’s acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Saturday.

Benjamin, who revealed that “all available data indicated that Mmesoma is 19 years old” and not 16 as was initially claimed by the candidate, said that the report had further reinforced the position of the board that its system was not and could not be compromised.

He said, “It is to be noted that the board has built a reputation in terms of the conduct of credible examinations over the years and cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical juncture of its development. Therefore, we will not despair in spite of the painful realisation that some Nigerians will do anything to cast aspersions on the good name of the board.

“However, in spite of all the posturing of its detractors, the board remains resolute and uncompromising in its commitment to give Nigeria the best as far as credible and fair assessment is concerned.”

JAMB had last Sunday accused Mmesoma of manually inflating her UTME result from 249 to 362. The candidate had since paraded herself as the 2023 UTME top scorer and attracted a scholarship of N3m from Innoson motors.

Despite multiple pleas by the board, Mmesoma insisted that her result was not forged and noted that she printed it from JAMB’s website.

Consequently, JAMB slammed a three-year ban on her with the House of Representatives calling for a stay of action.

Social media users, who initially stood by her, had since begun to tender their apologies across various social media platforms.

Benjamin commended the Anambra State Government for its “patriotic and unbiased posture” and said the board was more than ever determined to continue to forge ahead unmindful of the shenanigans of those who desired its failure. He called on Nigerians to learn from the incident and appreciate the genuine efforts of critical national institutions to chart the course of national rebirth.

Mmesoma had earlier admitted to the panel of independent investigators set up by the state government that she forged the UTME result.

In a report made available to journalists in Abuja by Benjamin, the panel noted that Mmesoma did not give any reason for the forgery.

The report read in part, “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 having manipulated the result by herself unaided, using the same phone and Airtel number.

“According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafé (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi), where she printed the result she had manipulated. The committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma said nothing.”

The report added that in their own submissions, the Principal, Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu, Nnewi, and the Education Secretary, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion), expressed shock that Mmesoma admitted to having manipulated her UTME result, deceiving the school, her immediate family and the state government.

Father seeks pardon

Meanwhile, Mmesoma’s father, Romanus Ejikeme, said his daughter did not confess her “crime” to him on time. Romanus also pleaded with JAMB and Nigerians at large to forgive her.

Speaking in an interview with the Nigeria Television Authority, Romanus said, “My daughter didn’t open up to me on time. When I realised the mistake she made, I blamed her a lot, but I’m still apologising to JAMB and Nigerians to pardon her.

“It was very shocking and devastating to us. We were not expecting such news because we never suspected any foul play as far as the result presented by Mmesoma is concerned, so the news jolted us and everybody around us.”

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, who had earlier knocked the examination board for exposing Mmesoma, has recommended counselling for the embattled student.

In a statement posted via her Twitter page on Saturday, Ezekwesili said she was satisfied with the process and findings of the investigative panel, which gave Mmesoma “fair hearing.”

She added, “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.

“I also recommend sustained counselling for Mmesoma by the family, school and church to support her as she reflects on this tragic episode and makes a decision to embrace values and rewards of effort while eschewing dishonest gain for the rest of her life.”

Innoson withdraws scholarship

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company has withdrawn the scholarship awarded to Mmesoma. The withdrawal of the scholarship, according to the firm, followed the revelation of the committee of inquiry that she faked her UTME result.

In a statement posted on Twitter by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, Innoson said it made the “difficult decision” to withdraw the scholarship “in response to the confirmed findings.”

The statement read in part, “The findings from this rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme did manipulate her UTME results. This conclusion is deeply disappointing and stands in direct contravention of the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underscore our scholarship programme.

“In line with these principles and in response to the confirmed findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme. This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity and merit-based recognition.”

A lawyer, Johnmary Maduakolam, who threatened to sue JAMB for exposing the embattled candidate, insisted that the board failed to follow due process.

The lawyer, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, said Mmesoma learnt the act of forgery from politicians and added that he had no standing to sue the board since the candidate had been confirmed to be an adult.

He said, “I have seen the reports and I have condemned Mmesoma. Of course, the basis of the lawsuit was based on the representation of Mmesoma that she was a minor, but the moment that it was discovered that she was above 18, I lacked the locum to continue the suit. There would have been no basis to continue to sue JAMB.

“Mmesoma has learnt from politicians in high places that one can forge WAEC, NYSC and any other document. We can see now that it does not pay. I insist that JAMB did not follow due process. They can’t be the accuser and the judge. JAMB violated the law in that regard.”