The three-year ban imposed on Anambra student Ejikeme Mmesoma by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is due to expire this July, making her eligible once again to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Punch reports.
Recall that Mmesoma became the centre of national attention in July 2023 after she claimed to have scored 362 in the UTME, a result that would have ranked her among the country’s highest-performing candidates.
The claim initially drew public sympathy after she accused JAMB of failing to recognize her achievement. However, the controversy quickly escalated after the examination body declared the result she presented fake. JAMB insisted that Mmesoma’s authentic score was 249 and alleged that she manipulated her result using her mobile phone before printing a forged copy at a cybercafé.
In its report released on July 8, 2023, the panel confirmed that Mmesoma’s actual UTME score was 249 and that the 362 score she presented was manipulated.
According to the panel, Mmesoma admitted during the proceedings that she personally altered the result using her Airtel mobile phone before taking it to a cybercafé for printing.
The report stated that she acted alone and apologized to JAMB, the Anambra State Government and her school over the incident.
Following the findings, JAMB withdrew the forged result and announced a three-year ban preventing her from participating in any of its examinations. The board said the sanction was in line with its established procedures for examination malpractice and result falsification.
JAMB also maintained that its examination system had not been compromised, insisting that Mmesoma falsified a result slip. The scandal had far-reaching consequences.
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing withdrew the scholarship earlier awarded to her following the announcement of the alleged outstanding score.
Her father, Romanus Ejikeme, later apologized publicly to JAMB and Nigerians, saying his daughter failed to tell him the truth on time.
Explaining the decision at the time, JAMB spokesperson 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 Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma and in line with its established procedures, has withdrawn her 2023 UTME result and also barred her from sitting the Board’s examination for the next three years.”
With the expiration of the three-year sanction this month, Mmesoma is expected to become eligible again to register for the UTME should she decide to pursue admission into a tertiary institution.