An official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Philomina Chieshe, has been suspended after she claimed that a “mystery snake” sneaked into the board’s office in Makurdi, and made away with N36 million kept in the vault.
The reported loss of the money, which was said to be proceeds of scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centres, generated much controversy on social media over the weekend.
According to The Punch, spokesman for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin disclosed the suspension on Sunday, adding that other disciplinary measures were being lined up for the official.
“She has been suspended and she is going through all other disciplinary procedures while investigation is ongoing on the matter. Her claim was that a snake came into the office and swallowed the N 36m proceeds,” Benjamin was quoted as saying.
Chieshe reportedly told a team of auditors sent to recover funds generated before the abolition of scratch cards that she could not account for the N36 million.
However, she allegedly changed her story upon interrogation, saying that her housemaid had connived with another woman, Joan Asen, to spiritually steal the funds from the office’s account vault.
Benjamin added that security agencies were still investigating the matter.