Ejikeme Mmesoma, an Anambra student, has apologized to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for falsifying her unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).
Mmesoma apologized to the examination board when she testified before a House of Representatives ad hoc committee examining the suspected fabrication of results.
Speaking directly to the JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, and top board directors who also came before the committee, the 19-year-old student asked for leniency and the lifting of the ban placed on her.
“Permit me to use this medium to tender this letter of apology with a heavy heart….I deeply and sincerely admit that I ignorantly got my JAMB result from another portal which was not a JAMB portal. But in the course of this, I lambasted JAMB solidly standing my ground that I obtained my result from the JAMB portal. I apologize for all the apportioned blame and all the pain I have caused.
“I want to emphasize that ignorance played a significant role in my misguided action. I learnt a clear understanding of the far-reaching consequences and the impact of my actions would have. Words cannot adequately describe the depths of pain I feel for letting you down. This is the first time in my life in my academic studies that I would be accused of any form of misbehaviour, not to talk of forgery. It is not in my character and personality, therefore I plead for leniency and forgiveness for my misconduct. I want to emphasize my commitment to making amends” she said.
During his speech, the JAMB registrar stated that Mmesoma had purposefully colluded with other actors to fake the results. According to Oloyede, JAMB has shut down over eight UTME centres that were found lacking for breaches involving result manipulation.
Mmesoma made headlines in June when JAMB accused her of falsifying her results. According to a statement made by the board, the girl of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra state, faked the 362 result sheet she was displaying and even used it to get a scholarship from Innoson Motors. An investigation by an Anambra state government commission found her guilty of forgery. Mmesoma also came out to confess her error.
After being found guilty of forgery, JAMB barred her for three years and even retracted her results.