JAMB Controversy: Mmesoma, AGSS Principal Barred from Speaking, Church Takes over Matter

~ My daughter, wife moody over allegation – Father

By Ifeizu Joe

There are indications that the Nnewi Diocese of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, owners of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, Anambra State, may have taken over the matter concerning Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, and allegation of forgery of JAMB result.

Ejikeme who has been parading a JAMB result with the score of 362, and said to be the highest has been dismissed by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as being fake.

The board said the student forged her result, adding that her original result has been withdrawn, and that she has been banned from taking the exams for three years.

This indication came when THE RAZOR visited the principal of the school, Mrs Uchechukwu Edum, but she reneged on an earlier agreement for an interview.

A source within the school told THE RAZOR during an investigative visit that both the principal and the student have been restricted from speaking on the matter.

When THE RAZOR visited the school yesterday to speak with the principal, Mrs Edum who had earlier agreed to an interview during a phone conversation, said she was no longer ready to speak. The school also refused to have journalists speak to the student, Miss Ejikeme.

Though both the student and principal were out of school during the period of the visit, the principal said she was at Bishops office, but rejected plea to honour the interview there.

A source within the school said they were invited to the bishop’s office by the education secretary of the diocese, Venerable Henry Nduka.

“We have strict instructions not to speak to anyone. You can go to the bishop’s office and see the principal, but I’m sure she will not speak. The girl is also not permitted to talk to you.”

Meanwhile, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Nnewi Diocese, owners of AGSS seem to have corroborated this. It stated that it will make its position known on the matter against her student on Wednesday.

When THE RAZOR approached the education secretary of the diocese, Venerable Henry Nduka, he stated that: “This matter is already with the DSS and they are investigating. This is a serious matter for us and the diocese is very serious about this.

“We are under the authority of the bishop and we have said we will not speak about this today. We will speak tomorrow (Wednesday), and it is what the bishop said we should do that we will do. We are not preempting what we have to say. We will talk about it today.

“We have a Diocesan Chancellor who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and we have taken a stand on this. So we are inviting you to come tomorrow and we will tell you our stand on this and everything you wish to know.

“I’m the education secretary of the diocese, my colleague here is the admin secretary of the diocese and the synod secretary too. We will give you the full cooperation you desire tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, father of the student in the centre of the controversy, Mr Romanus Ejikeme who hosted THE RAZOR in his house said: “I have no doubt about this matter. I’m sure my daughter did not forge the result and we are ready to go to any length.

“I only feel bad that after what my daughter has gone through reading for the exams, that she is being denied her legitimate score.

“Since this allegation of my daughter forging her JAMB result broke out, both my wife and my daughter have been feeling very sad. My wife is unhappy about this, and my daughter too is traumatized, just like her mother.

“We want a diligent investigation into this matter,” he said.