For several days now, the internet has been filled with reactions over the alleged forge of top scorer for 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination by a student known as Mmesoma Ejikeme from Anambra State.
Ejikeme was chided by the Joint Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) for parading herself as the top scorer nationwide in a statement released on Sunday evening.
While noted that Ejikeme manually inflated her UTME result from 249 to 362 and used her inflated score to attract a N3m scholarship from Innoson Motors, and was set to be awarded by the Anambra State Government before she was exposed.
According to the statement, “The most pathetic of them all is the case of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, who claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 UTME and was awarded a N3m scholarship by Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma.
“She was even set to be honoured by the Anambra State Government when one of its top officials put a call through to JAMB to confirm her claim only for the Board to reveal that Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had actually scored 249 and not 362 as claimed”.
It was stated that Ejikeme had manipulated her UTME result to deceive the public to fraudulently obtain a scholarship and other recognitions, while the Board said she will be prosecuted and have her original result withdrawn.
Reacting to this development, the Head of Corporate Communications, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, has called for an investigation into the allegations of certificate forgery against the student, Ejikeme Mmesoma.
Osigwe in a post through his official Twitter handle, @cornelosigwe said, the girl, Ejikeme who he met in person doesn’t have the brain and capacity to manipulate her result, adding that there are more to this story.
According to him, “A proper investigation needs to be done. Abeg, let the poor breath.
“That girl was one of the most brilliant in her school, according to the Principal, her parents couldn’t even afford to pay for her WAEC and NECO Exams. Of what advantage will it offer her to manipulate her JAMB score? Let the poor breathe pls”, he said.
Ejikeme, on video responded to the alleged forged result, she said she was traumatized to hear JAMB accused her of forgery, explaining that she printed the result from the JAMB portal, invited by the State Security Service for statement, while assured that prompt investigation will be done.
Nigerians on Twitter have berated JAMB Board for not investigating before accusing Ejikeme of forgery, saying JAMB didn’t give any report but rushed to the media to declare that she forged her result. “This is the irresponsibility I’m talking about. JAMB just like INEC is a big shame”, someone said.
Another Twitter handler said, “The calmness, the well articulated thoughts, and the way she presented the whole situation. I believe this girl 100%.
“And she did this without a script in a country where older politicians with script still commit blunders in front of camera. Ejikeme Mmesoma, God be with you! You will thrive. So sorry Nigeria is happening to you at this point”, he said.