Reps wade into Mmesoma’s case, directs JAMB to suspend punitive action

House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to wade into the alleged forgery of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result by Ejikeme Mmesoma.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Awaji-Inombek Abiante on the floor of the House.

Recall that Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra State and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have been at loggerheads over the authenticity of her result.

Mmesoma had claimed to have scored 362, but JAMB disputed the claim, declaring that she scored 249, and accused her of forgery.

“The person in question does not have the opportunity to sit here with us to be heard. She may not also have the opportunity to convoke press conferences like JAMB is trying to do,” Abiante said.

Idu Igaruwe, a member from Ebonyi State, while speaking on the motion, faulted JAMB on how it handled the case, particularly the case of forgery.

“JAMB has alleged a very serious criminal offence of forgery. Forgery is a felony. And then JAMB at the same time is also investigating this allegation of forgery when there is supposed to be a presumption of innocence. Something is definitely wrong with that process,” he said.

At the end of the debate on the motion, the House resolved that JAMB should suspend any action against the candidate until investigation is concluded.

The House then resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.