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Apologise to JAMB, Anambra inquiry committee tells Mmesoma after her confession

Published

3 years ago

July 8, 2023

Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme

Apologise to JAMB, Anambra inquiry committee tells Mmesoma after her confession

The seven-man committee set up by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra State, to investigate allegations of manipulation of UTME results of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has said Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme forged her results without stating the motive behind her action.

The committee has therefore asked Ejikeme to tender an unreserved apology to JAMB.

It also commended the examination body for its effectiveness.

The committee which submitted its report on Friday, July 7 to the governor, said Ejikeme “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 to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone with Airtel number. According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafé (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi) where she printed the results she had manipulated.

The committee stated that it tried to find out the motive for her actions but “Ejikeme said nothing”.

It therefore, among other things, recommended that Ejikeme should undergo psychological counselling.

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Members of the committee are Prof. Nkemdilim Nnonyelu, Prof. Mercy Chika Okonkwo, Prof. C. Jaja Nwanegbo, Maduabuchi Dukor, Rev Sr. Prof. Mary Felicia Opara, Rev Canon Dr. Uchenna Umeifekwen and Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh

The full report is as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EJIKEME JOY MMESOMA’S JAMB SCORE CONTROVERSY

Recall Mr. Governor that with the recent release of scores of candidates who applied for admission by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and subsequent announcement of Nkechiyere Umeh as the candidate with the highest score of 360, Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, a 19 year old student of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi, from Enugu State, protested to the State Government that she scored 362 and ought to have been so recognised. This has elicited interests and generated serious controversy and misgivings among the general public that the State Government in its wisdom decided to constitute a Committee of Inquiry to look into the underlisted terms of reference;

Review Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB Results and associated documents
Conduct interviews with relevant parties, including Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, JAMB Officials and any other individual(s) involved in the process.
Provide recommendations based on the findings of the investigation.

The Committee invited Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, and officials of JAMB for interactive session with the Committee. JAMB officials led by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Head Public Affairs presented the detailed processes and procedures involved in JAMB admissions, the policy changes that have occurred in the release of UTME scores since 2021 and what specifically transpired between the candidate Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with registration number: 20230639047FF in her quest to obtain her JAMB score.

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JAMB revealed the different times that Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma made several requests to JAMB portal asking for her results at different hours, and each of these times (four in number), she received in her phone, same results from JAMB indicating candidate’s UTME Results to wit: Eng: 64, Phy:54, Bio: 74, Che: 57 with a total aggregate score of 249. JAMB disclosed that the candidate was well informed of her correct score from JAMB. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had sent a request to JAMB with a different registration number showing a UTME result of aggregate score of 362, with Eng: 98, Phy: 89, Bio: 94, and Che: 81. The results she sent differed substantially from the standard JAMB format where she got an appropriate rebuttal stating her real score of 249.

Besides, a number of red-flags was also highlighted by JAMB officials showing a different date of birth, different Registration Number, Notification of results template that has been discarded since 2021, amongst others. It was also evident that even the centre name “Nkemefuna Foundation (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development as it was known before now) used for the examination was also manipulated where the candidate used the old name of the centre (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development) in her own manipulated result sheet.

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 to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone Airtel Number. According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafé (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi) where she printed the results she had manipulated.

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The Committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma said NOTHING. 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.

COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS

The results released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is 249
1. The results paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with aggregate score of 362 is fake as buttressed by the very significant and instructive variations in the registration number, date of birth, centre name and other infractions.
1. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma admitted that she manipulated the fake results herself, using her phone
1. The Principal Anglican Girls’ Secondary School – Mrs. Edu Uche and the Education Secretary, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglicn Communion) expressed dismay at the conduct of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma.

Recommendations

That Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma tenders an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi and the Anambra State Government. This should be done immediately.
Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma should undergo a psychological counselling and therapy
All prospective candidates for JAMB Admission should adhere strictly to guidelines, processes and procedures of the examination body.

Conclusion

The Committee of Inquiry commends Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for their diligent handling of the matter and the information supplied about the interface with the candidate (See attached) We hope that this unearthing of the truth as we have discovered will go a long way in correcting the sentiments, misconceptions, and deceptions that have been in public domain.

Finally, we thank Mr. Governor for setting up the committee and for the confidence reposed in the committee.

Related Topics:Featured JAMB Mmesoma Ejikeme

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Court Sentences POS Operator to Death for Role in Kidnap That Killed 83-Year-Old Man, Driver

An Imo State High Court has sentenced a 28-year-old point-of-sale (POS) operator, Isaac Okorie, to death by hanging for his role in the kidnapping and murder of an 83-year-old man, Chief Alexander Chukwuma Okoli, and his driver, Daniel Sarki, despite the payment of ransom by the victims’ family.

Justice Matthew Ijezie, sitting at the High Court in Urualla, within the Orlu Judicial Division, delivered the judgment on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after finding Okorie guilty on six counts bordering on armed robbery, hostage-taking and murder.

The court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through the evidence presented during the trial.

According to the judgment, the incident occurred on October 14, 2023, at Isiekenesi in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, when Okoli and his driver were abducted by members of an armed criminal gang.

The court heard that Okorie conspired with other members of the gang, who were armed with guns, to seize the two men and take them into a bush.

The kidnappers also reportedly stole Okoli’s gold-coloured Toyota Corolla, with registration number AAH 989 RM.

The gang subsequently demanded a ransom of ₦100 million from the victims’ family in exchange for their release.

However, the family eventually paid ₦2.515 million, but the payment did not secure the safe return of the two men.

According to the court’s account, the gang killed both victims despite receiving the money and later sent photographs of their lifeless bodies to the family.

The remains of Okoli and his driver had yet to be recovered as of the time the judgment was reported, leaving their family members without the opportunity to give them a proper burial.

During the trial, the court heard that police investigations identified Okorie’s role in the criminal operation as receiving ransom payments from the families of kidnapping victims.

The evidence linking him to the operation formed part of the prosecution’s case, which the court found sufficient to establish his guilt on all six counts.

Following the conviction, the court gave Okorie an opportunity to plead for leniency before sentencing, a procedure known as allocutus.

Okorie reportedly appealed to the court for mercy, but Justice Ijezie proceeded to sentence him to death by hanging.

Reacting to the judgment, Ikenna Obi, a senior state counsel with the Imo State Ministry of Justice who prosecuted the case, described the ruling as significant.

Obi said the judgment would provide some measure of relief to the victims’ family, despite the continuing uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts of their remains.

He expressed hope that the conviction would deter individuals involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes, while discouraging others from joining criminal gangs.

The prosecutor also commended the judge for delivering what he described as a well-considered judgment in accordance with the law.

Amanda, the daughter of one of the victims, also reportedly expressed relief that the court had punished the convict.

She, however, said the family remained deeply distressed by the failure to recover the bodies of her father and his driver.

Although the judgment offered the family some comfort, she expressed hope that security agencies would intensify efforts to locate the remains and arrest other suspects who were still at large.

The conviction marks a significant development in the case, which began with the abduction of the elderly man and his driver nearly three years before the judgment.

However, the family’s search for closure remains incomplete, as the recovery of the victims’ remains and the prosecution of any outstanding suspects remain unresolved.

Court Sentences POS Operator to Death for Role in Kidnap That Killed 83-Year-Old Man, Driver

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MURIC Applauds Army as Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque Reopens After Week-Long Closure

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MURIC Applauds Army as Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque Reopens After Week-Long Closure

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended the Nigerian Army Headquarters and the commandant of Mogadishu Cantonment for reopening a mosque used by Muslim soldiers and their families in Abuja after a week-long closure.

The Islamic human rights organisation said the mosque, which serves Muslim personnel and their families residing in military accommodation within the cantonment, was reopened on Tuesday, October 20, following an appeal by the group.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, describing the reopening as a welcome development that demonstrated the importance of dialogue and cooperation in resolving religious concerns.

According to Akintola, the mosque had been closed since October 12, preventing Muslim soldiers and their families living within the military facility from using it for their daily prayers.

He said MURIC had earlier appealed to the Army Headquarters and the cantonment authorities to explain the reason for the closure and restore access to the mosque for worshippers.

The organisation expressed concern over the disruption of daily prayers and urged the military authorities to address the matter.

Akintola said the mosque’s reopening on October 20, the same day MURIC publicly raised the issue, brought relief to the organisation and affected worshippers.

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He described the development as an indication that concerns raised through dialogue and peaceful engagement could receive prompt attention from relevant authorities.

MURIC said it appreciated the response of the Army Headquarters and the cantonment commandant, praising what it described as the professionalism of the military leadership and its respect for the rule of law.

The organisation also expressed optimism that the resolution of the matter would strengthen public confidence in the military and encourage constructive engagement between religious communities and security institutions.

According to Akintola, cooperation between the military and Muslim communities is particularly important in addressing terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges facing the country.

He argued that mutual understanding and goodwill between the armed forces and civilians would help strengthen collective efforts to combat insecurity.

MURIC therefore urged Muslims across Nigeria to cooperate fully with military personnel and other security agencies, stressing the importance of public support in the fight against crime and insurgency.

The organisation maintained that peaceful engagement remained essential to resolving disagreements and preventing issues involving religious practice from escalating into wider disputes.

Although MURIC welcomed the reopening of the mosque, its statement did not disclose the reason for the initial closure or whether the Army Headquarters had issued a separate explanation.

The development followed MURIC’s earlier public appeal to the military authorities to explain the closure and reopen the facility.

The organisation’s latest statement focused on appreciating the authorities for restoring access to the mosque and encouraging continued cooperation between Muslims and the military.

MURIC, which advocates the protection of Muslim rights and promotes dialogue as an alternative to violence, said the outcome offered encouragement that concerns could be addressed through peaceful and constructive engagement.

The organisation concluded by urging Nigerians to support security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and reduce crime across the country.

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US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences

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US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences

The United States government has listed two Nigerian men, Ezechukwu Joshua Ohaka and Tayo Muyiwa Olukoya, as wanted over separate allegations involving healthcare fraud and drug-related offences.

The two men were listed by different US federal law enforcement agencies, with Ohaka accused of participating in a scheme involving more than $3.1 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, while Olukoya is wanted over an alleged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

According to information released by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Ohaka, 57, allegedly worked with co-conspirators through his Houston-based company, Luant & Odera, Inc., to submit fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment.

The equipment included power wheelchairs, motorised scooters and wheelchair accessories that investigators alleged were medically unnecessary or were not supplied to beneficiaries.

The agency said the alleged scheme involved more than $3.1 million in claims, with approximately $1.08 million in proceeds reportedly obtained.

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Investigators also alleged that Ohaka presented himself as a medical doctor under the name “Dr Joshua Ohaka” and targeted Medicare beneficiaries who had lived in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The authorities further alleged that kickbacks were paid to recruit beneficiaries into the scheme.

The allegations concern possible fraud against Medicare, the US government-funded health insurance programme that primarily serves people aged 65 and older and certain younger people with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions.

In a separate case, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) listed Olukoya, 57, also known as “Uncle”, as wanted over an alleged conspiracy to possess controlled substances with the intention of distributing them and to distribute the substances.

The DEA’s Chicago Division announced that it was seeking information about Olukoya, whose case is associated with the Southern District of Indiana.

Olukoya had previously been named among defendants in a marijuana trafficking case announced by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana in May 2022. Prosecutors at the time alleged that the wider operation involved the distribution of large quantities of marijuana across several US states between 2016 and 2022.

However, the latest DEA wanted notice does not, by itself, establish that the allegations have been proven in court.

The two cases involve separate investigations, and there is no indication in the available reports that Ohaka and Olukoya were connected.

US authorities have called for information that could help locate the wanted men. The agencies have not established in the cited announcements that either man is currently in Nigeria.

The development comes amid continued efforts by US law enforcement agencies to pursue people accused of healthcare fraud, drug trafficking and other federal offences.

Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.