A 19-year-old student from Anambra State, Ejikeme Mmesoma, has apologised to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for manipulating her 2023 Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.

Mmesoma presented her letter of apology before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on alleged manipulation of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) result in Abuja on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

The student had claimed to score 362 as against her actual score of 249 in the 2023 UTME.

Mmesoma stated that she admitted that what she did was wrong, adding that it was the reason she came to present her letter of apology, titled “Letter of Profound Apology”.

She said: “I humbly seek your forgiveness for the mistake I made, I sincerely agree that I got the JAMB result from another portal in the course of this, I lambasted JAMB, I apologise.

“Ignorance played a significant role in my action; words cannot describe the depth of pain in my heart. This is the first time I will be doing this, I have never engaged in falsification or any misdemeanor.”

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Mmesoma noted that it was not in her character to manipulate results and bring public institutions to ridicule, adding that she has embraced genuine repentance.

She said she would willingly accept the recommendation of the ad hoc committee, adding that she has accepted to rectify her mistake and become a better person.

“I want you to temper justice with mercy,” the student stated.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, said Mmesoma manipulated her result, aided by the centre where she wrote the exam, adding that the centre had been banned for aiding and abetting fraud.

He said eight centres in Anambra State are currently under investigation over Mmesoma’s case, adding that contrary to insinuations, there was no loophole in JAMB.

Oloyede, who called on Nigerians to be careful in making unfounded statements and have confidence in public institutions, commended JAMB in its processes and procedure.

He stated that JAMB has introduced an innovation that will help to reduce human interference in its operational processes, thereby building confidence in the public.

“Mmesoma’s case was an amateur; there was one falsification by a candidate that I almost went mad.”

On his part, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Sanda Soli, urged Mmesoma to restitute her ways and not allow such misconduct again.

“You are one of the high scorers; don’t ever think of doing bad things to achieve anything ever again,” Soli said.

The Star