The House of Representatives has formed an Ad-hoc Committee tasked with investigating the alleged manipulation of UTME results by Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma. The committee has been given a one-week timeframe to conduct the investigation and submit a report for further legislative action.
The motion to establish the committee was sponsored by Hon. Awaji-inombek Abiante of Rivers State. In his motion, he highlighted the role of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in overseeing the Matriculation Examinations for admissions into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Hon. Abiante expressed concern over allegations made by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the JAMB Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, who claimed that some 2023 UTME candidates were presenting fake scores to gain an unfair advantage. This prompted the need for an investigation into these allegations.
During the discussion of the motion, Hon. Sada Soli from Katsina State proposed an amendment, urging JAMB to suspend any further action and revise any sanctions imposed on Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma until the outcome of the House investigation.
Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma herself came forward to defend her position, stating that she had obtained her UTME result directly from the JAMB portal and that she had consistently excelled in her academic pursuits, always achieving top scores in previous examinations. She asserted that she had no motive or capability to manipulate her UTME result.
The establishment of the Ad-hoc Committee by the House of Representatives reflects the seriousness with which they regard the allegations of UTME result manipulation. The committee’s findings and subsequent legislative actions will shed light on the matter and ensure fairness and integrity in the admission process for Nigerian educational institutions.