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Oloyede clears air on JAMB’s ₦36m ‘snake swallowed money’ controversy

Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede

Oloyede clears air on JAMB’s ₦36m ‘snake swallowed money’ controversy

Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has dismissed the long-running belief that a snake physically swallowed money belonging to the examination body, insisting that the widely repeated account was never a literal incident.

Oloyede said the controversial “snake swallowed JAMB money” story was an explanation linked to missing funds discovered during an audit and not evidence that a snake had actually taken public money.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, the former JAMB registrar explained that the incident predated his tenure and that he only became involved after assuming office and taking steps to investigate the matter.

The controversy became one of Nigeria’s most widely discussed public-sector scandals in 2018 after about ₦36 million generated from the sale of JAMB scratch cards could not be properly accounted for at the board’s Makurdi office in Benue State.

At the time, reports said a sales clerk linked the missing money to a mysterious snake that allegedly entered the office and “spiritually” took the funds from a vault.

The unusual explanation sparked nationwide disbelief, criticism and satire, while the phrase “snake swallowed money” became a popular reference in public discussions about missing government funds and accountability.

However, Oloyede said many Nigerians later interpreted the story literally, even though no snake was ever found.

“The snake matter did not occur when I was there. It was just that I had the fortune or misfortune that I had to address it. The matter had occurred before I assumed office,” Oloyede said.

The former JAMB chief explained that he ordered the account of what allegedly happened to be recorded because the explanation was difficult to believe.

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According to him, the recording later became important when the incident attracted national attention and some people questioned whether the unusual account had actually been given.

“I insisted that we must record it because it was unbelievable. When the matter became a national issue, the tape was there. Even myself, I would have disbelieved myself if we did not have the recording of the narration of what happened,” he said.

Oloyede maintained that no snake was ever found because the incident was not a case of a reptile physically swallowing public money.

“There was no snake. Some people will say snakes were swallowing naira in JAMB, but they know that was just a creation of a mind. Many people took it literally and believed snakes swallowed money. The reality was that that never happened,” he added.

The 2018 controversy emerged during a wider review of JAMB’s finances and operations following Oloyede’s appointment as registrar in 2016.

The board had deployed audit teams to review records relating to the sale of scratch cards, reconcile revenues and identify funds that had not been properly accounted for.

The audit brought renewed attention to weaknesses associated with the old scratch-card system and prompted further efforts to strengthen financial controls and improve transparency within the examination body.

At the height of the controversy, JAMB said the matter was being treated as a case involving alleged financial misconduct and that officials found culpable would face disciplinary action and possible prosecution.

The board also maintained that the central issue was the disappearance of public funds and not the sensational interpretation that a snake had physically swallowed ₦36 million.

The sales clerk linked to the controversy later denied personally saying that a snake swallowed the money, arguing that she had not been directly questioned about the missing funds and that the matter was being wrongly personalised. JAMB officials, however, maintained that the unusual explanation emerged during the audit process. (TheCable)

Oloyede’s latest comments have again drawn attention to the difference between the popular public narrative and the underlying allegations of missing funds.

The former registrar said the widespread use of the phrase had overshadowed the broader issue of financial accountability and the efforts made to identify and address irregularities within the board.

The “snake swallowed JAMB money” story has remained part of Nigeria’s political and social vocabulary, often used to question unusual explanations for missing public funds.

Beyond the controversy, Oloyede also revisited the widely publicised Mmesoma Ejikeme UTME result controversy, saying the case was not an isolated incident.

According to him, JAMB had handled several cases involving alleged examination fraud, result manipulation and the presentation of questionable examination records over the years.

Mmesoma became the subject of national debate in 2023 after JAMB accused her of presenting a manipulated Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.

The matter generated widespread public discussion, with some individuals initially questioning the board’s findings and calling for further investigation.

However, an investigative panel set up by the Anambra State Government later concluded that the result presented by Mmesoma was not authentic.

Oloyede said the case demonstrated the importance of relying on verified records, established procedures and credible evidence when handling examination-related disputes.

He also stressed the need for stronger technology and improved verification systems to address examination malpractice, identity fraud, impersonation and the manipulation of academic records.

During his tenure, JAMB expanded the use of digital systems, including biometric verification, electronic registration processes and the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), as part of efforts to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for fraud.

The former JAMB registrar said the board had encountered several cases involving questionable results, but the Mmesoma controversy attracted exceptional public attention because of the scale of the debate surrounding it.

Oloyede’s clarification has again placed the focus on the central issue behind the 2018 controversy: the investigation into missing funds and the need for stronger accountability in public institutions.

For the former JAMB chief, the story was never about a snake physically swallowing public money but about an unusual explanation that emerged during an investigation into financial irregularities.