The Nnewi Anglican Diocese, the governing body of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, which the embattled Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme attends, asserted on Wednesday that the school has never been involved in any form of examination malpractice throughout its history.
Speaking to the press regarding the alleged counterfeit JAMB result being circulated by Mmesoma, Venerable Geoffrey Motuanya, the synod secretary of the Diocese, expressed the church’s full support for the Anambra State government’s efforts to uncover the truth behind the incident.
Venerable Motuanya emphasized that the church is providing both spiritual and practical assistance to Mmesoma’s family and is determined to resist any form of coercion or manipulation aimed at pressuring them, solely based on their humble background.
“We will abide by any decision after the investigation. We, however, regret that the situation is bringing about negative effects on the girl”, the church said.
In the meantime, the Anambra State government has established an eight-member committee of inquiry to conduct a thorough investigation into the JAMB/Mmesoma case. The committee will be headed by Professor Nkemdili Nonyelu.
The committee comprises other distinguished members, including Prof. Mercy Okonkwo, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Prof. Maduabuchi Dukor, Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo, Rev. Sr. Prof. Mary-Felicia Opara, Rev. Cannon Uchenna Umeifekwem, and Mr. Fred Agbata, the managing director of the Anambra Information Communication Technology Agency.
Mr. Paul Nwosu, the Commissioner for Information, stated that the committee’s findings would be made public. He further emphasized that the state government has been closely monitoring the JAMB/Mmesoma Ejike case due to its significance and relevance.
Nwosu said: “It is important to note that Miss Mmesoma Ejike went to the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, with her UTME result to protest that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) didn’t recognize her as the candidate with the highest score.
“The Commissioner in turn called JAMB to confirm her claim, but she was told that Mmesoma’s result was forged.
“It was at this point that JAMB authorities invited the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and make its findings known.
“This was yet to happen when JAMB went public with the matter, thus eliciting the raucous conversations we’ve seen in the media.
“It is not our wish to join the slanging match or take sides at this stage. But as a responsible government, we have decided to undertake an independent investigation into the matter.”
