a Ejikeme. The young student was publicly accused by JAMB of manually inflating her 2023 UTME result, an allegation that the lawyer vehemently contests.
In a letter addressed to Prof. Oloyede, which our correspondent has obtained, Maduakolam expressed his shock and concern over the damaging circular issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Mr. Fabian Benjamin, on behalf of the Board. The lawyer adamantly defended Mmesoma, asserting that she was incapable of forging her own results, and condemned JAMB’s failure to protect her identity.
Maduakolam, who is also the President of the Johnmary Akachukwu Maduakolam Initiative for Education, a pet project dedicated to promoting education and the holistic development of young individuals, further accused JAMB of defaming the innocent girl and failing to fulfill its responsibility under the Child’s Right Act to safeguard the welfare of children.
JAMB had alleged that Mmesoma manually inflated her UTME score from 249 to 362, purportedly to attract a N3 million scholarship from Innoson Motors, which was set to be awarded to her by the Anambra state government before the truth emerged. The Board claimed that she manipulated her UTME result to deceive the public and fraudulently obtain scholarships and other recognitions.
However, the lawyer questioned the veracity of JAMB’s claims, pointing out information in the media that raises doubts about the authenticity of the Board’s results. He emphasized that even if Mmesoma had forged her results, the law grants her some protection as a child facing such circumstances.
In light of the damaging allegations and their impact on the young student, Maduakolam called upon Prof. Oloyede to immediately retract the malicious publication made against Mmesoma, offer an unreserved apology, and take immediate steps to alleviate the trauma caused by JAMB’s conduct.
The lawyer warned that failure to comply with his demands for the welfare of the child would result in legal action, with the Board bearing the cost of such proceedings. As the situation unfolds, the fate of Mmesoma’s reputation and future rests in the hands of the JAMB leadership.
key Highlights
- Lawyer Johnmary Maduakolam demands an apology from JAMB Registrar and Board management for defaming Anambra pupil, Mmesoma Ejikeme, who was accused of manually inflating her UTME result.
- The lawyer accuses JAMB of failing to protect the identity of the girl and challenges the authenticity of the claims made against her.
- JAMB had alleged that Ejikeme fraudulently increased her UTME score to obtain a scholarship, prompting the lawyer to seek immediate redress on her behalf.