THREE years after becoming the face of one of Nigeria’s most controversial examination scandals, Anambra student Ejikeme Mmesoma is set to regain eligibility to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) today following the expiration of the sanction imposed on her by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
News Point Nigeria reports that JAMB had barred Mmesoma from participating in any of its examinations for three years after accusing her of manipulating her 2023 UTME result and presenting a forged score sheet.
Mmesoma attracted nationwide attention in July 2023 after claiming that she scored 362 in the UTME, a mark that would have placed her among the highest-performing candidates in the country that year.
Her claim initially generated widespread sympathy after she accused JAMB of failing to acknowledge her achievement. However, the controversy deepened when the examination body dismissed the score as fake.
JAMB maintained that Mmesoma’s genuine score was 249 and alleged that she altered her result using her mobile phone before printing a forged copy at a cybercafé.
The board highlighted several inconsistencies in the document she presented, including discrepancies in her registration number, date of birth, examination centre and the format of the result slip. It also noted that the notification template used by Mmesoma had been discontinued since 2021.
Although Mmesoma initially insisted that she had printed the result directly from JAMB’s portal and denied any wrongdoing, the Anambra State Government established an independent panel to investigate the matter.
The panel, chaired by Professor Nkemdili Nnonyelu, interviewed JAMB officials, Mmesoma, representatives of her school and other relevant stakeholders before submitting its report.
In its findings released on July 8, 2023, the panel affirmed that Mmesoma’s actual UTME score was 249 and that the 362 score she displayed had been manipulated.
According to the report, Mmesoma admitted during the inquiry that she personally altered the result using her Airtel mobile phone before taking it to a cybercafé for printing.
The panel further stated that she acted alone and subsequently apologised to JAMB, the Anambra State Government and her school over the incident.
Following the findings, JAMB withdrew the disputed result and announced a three-year ban on the student in line with its regulations on examination malpractice and result falsification.
Explaining the decision at the time, JAMB spokesman Fabian Benjamin said: “In the meantime, the management of the Board, after considering the weighty infraction committed by Ms. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, and in line with its established procedures, has withdrawn her 2023 UTME result and also barred her from sitting the Board’s examination for the next three years.”
The examination body also rejected claims that its systems had been compromised, insisting that the case involved the falsification of a result slip rather than any breach of its digital infrastructure.
The controversy had far-reaching consequences beyond the sanction imposed by JAMB.
Following the revelation, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing withdrew the scholarship earlier awarded to Mmesoma in recognition of her purported outstanding performance.
Her father, Romanus Ejikeme, later publicly apologised to JAMB and Nigerians, admitting that his daughter had not immediately disclosed the truth to him.
“My daughter didn’t open up to me on time. When I realised the mistake she did, I blamed her a lot but I’m still apologising to JAMB and Nigerians to pardon her,” he said during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority.
The Anambra State Government also intervened, with Governor Chukwuma Soludo directing that Mmesoma undergo three months of psychotherapy and counselling.
The incident sparked widespread national debate and drew reactions from politicians, education stakeholders and civil society groups.
While some Nigerians initially questioned JAMB’s handling of the matter, public opinion shifted after Mmesoma admitted to manipulating the result before the state panel.
The House of Representatives had called on JAMB to suspend the implementation of the ban pending investigations, while former ministers Oby Ezekwesili and Osita Chidoka urged authorities to show compassion and prioritise counselling over public condemnation.
With the expiration of the three-year sanction this month, Mmesoma is once again eligible to register for the UTME should she choose to pursue admission into a tertiary institution.