A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has said that the recent alleged forged result uncovered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shows how terribly wrong things have become in Nigerian society.
JAMB recently disowned a candidate from Anambra, one Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, who claimed to have obtained the highest Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score nationwide. Mmesoma claimed she scored 362 in the last UTME, making her the top scorer.
She was alleged to have used the result to obtain a N3 million scholarship from the Founder of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, and was about to be honoured by the Anambra State Government for the supposed feat.
However, JAMB said in a Sunday statement that Mmesoma was parading a forged result, saying she scored 249.
Reacting in a series of tweets on Monday, Okutepa said that forgery of results and age have become very common especially among public and civil servants.
Commending JAMB, the senior lawyer said all institutions must rise to fight against the menace of forgery.
“JAMB has said that a student who claimed to have scored 362 in her JAMB result inflated her result from 249 to 362. JAMB said she will be prosecuted. This student was already being celebrated.This story if true shows the nature of how things are done in our society and celebrated.
“While I will not support or condone this act if true, the conduct showed us the criminal ingenuity of most Nigerians and politicians. Most results declared in our elections are fake and forged results. That is why democracy is almost in danger. We celebrate criminal enterprises.
“The rate at which things are being forged and celebrated as genuine are just mind boggling and alarming in Nigeria. JAMB must be commended. But not only JAMB should be up and doing. Our institutions charged with duties of exposing corruption must wake up.
“No institution should defend fake results. We must get rid of fake results from our society. Most people in public and civil service have one forms of forged results or fake ages. We celebrate those who use wrong methods of attaining powers. That is why no accountability in Nigeria.
“Within the hearts of those celebrating fake results they know they cheated to come to power. Truth has taken flight out of many and most Nigerians. We preferred to do wrong things to attain positions. Not many want to work before attaining succeed. We worship fame and wealth.
“The lessons to learn from JAMB efforts are many. Our institutions must be up and doing. We should stop celebrating evil people and evil results in our lives. Nigerians must demand that things be done right in our society. Let those who have fake results own up now,” Okutepa said.