The academic wizkid from Anambra State, Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme, has reacted to the controversial result she obtained from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), saying that the education board defamed her.
In the attached video, 16-year-old Mmesoma said that JAMB’s accusation that she forged her result left her traumatised, adding that the result represents her original work as she has been on top of her class since kindergarten.
She also denied any involvement or culpability in any criminal act which according to her, she is incapable of.
She regretted that JAMD, instead of waiting for the outcome of the investigation initiated by the Department of State Services at the behest of the Anambra State Commissioner of Education, rushed to the media to declare that she forged her result.
Watch the video clip below:
In the meantime, investigation shows that Mmesoma may just be right as a scan of the QR code on the slip shows her name with the same score widely published popping out of the slip.
See below:
In the event of such, the ugly incidence may be attributed to suspected technology failure.
Nigerians earlier reacted
Reacting to the allegation that young Mmesoma forged her result, Fred Chukwuelobe wrote in a piece entitled “Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme and JAMB“:
“I always insist that there’s always two sides to a story. And in the Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme vs Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) imbrioglio, let us hear the two sides first before we pass judgement.
“JAMB has accused the 16-year-old Mmesoma Ejikeme of falsifying her winning 362 score in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) as against 249 the body said she legitimately scored.
“Before JAMB came with its story, Mmesoma had been celebrated as a child prodigy. She had gotten a scholarship from Nnewi-based automobile entrepreneur, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, proprietor of the high flying INNOSON Motors. The entrepreneur cum philanthropist gave her N3m for her exploits.
“Three months after being celebrated as the candidate with the highest UMTE score, and as her State – Anambra – was about to honour her and grant her further scholarship, JAMB struck, and threw spanner in the works. She was accused of manipulating the result.
“My understanding is that Mmesoma is from a poor background. Her father is a commercial motorcycle operator popularly known as okada rider. I have doubts as to the young lady’s capacity to engage in such untoward manipulation.
“I suspect that if it turns out to be true, then she must have been aided by someone who knows how to achieve such tasteless cookery. But that conclusion will have to wait until we hear from the young girl and complete an investigation. So, let’s hear her side of the sordid story.
“However, if it turns out that JAMB is accusing this girl falsely due to its own system failure or inefficiency, I pray that lawyers take up this case, sue JAMB, defend this young girl whose reputation has been severely damaged, and claim damages on her behalf.
“If on the hand she’s found guilty of what she’s been accused of, then she and her collaborators should be made to pay a heavy price.
“Until that is done, any comment made and any judgement passed on behalf of either parties would be hasty and prejudicial. So, let’s hear from Mmesoma.
“Journalists should seek her out, interview her, do a thorough investigation and report their findings undiluted. We need to get to the bottom of this matter and save the credibility of this girl or that of JAMB.
“This matter is serious and should be so treated.”
Charles Ogbu observed:
“The allegation by JAMB that miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, the 16 year old girl who was reported as this year’s JAMB highest scorer with 362 actually scored 249 but fraudulently inflated her scores MANUALLY and pasted same on the 2022 UTME result sheet, raises a whole lot of questions.
“How does one MANUALLY change figures and successfully paste same on the same UTME result sheet?
“Why embark on such brazenly audacious fraud knowing fully well that it will surely be discovered sooner or later before she gains admission into higher institution when her new school will get her original results from JAMB?
“And why did it take months for JAMB to refute the girl’s claim?
“This needs to be thoroughly investigated and if it turns out to be true, it will mark a major negative improvement in the Nigerian Fraud Industry.”
Pastor Edwin noted:
“I read that JAMB intends to prosecute the young girl. What she did is quite condemnable. And I believe an adult aided her. It shows the future of the country is headed towards abyss.
“A girl for that matter. She started with the foundation of fraud, imagine who she will give birth to as a mother.
“But it will amount to injustice to prosecute her without first prosecuting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who did far worst manipulation of the 2023 presidential election.
Peter Hanson added:
“Don’t give your judgements yet. Let the girl defend herself. When the result was announced was she the one that told the world that she got 360 or so, how does the news filter in the ears of everybody?
“Where was JAMB when she was awarded scholarship by Innoson. Something that happens almost two months ago.”
