In light of recent revelations that 16-year-old, Mmesoma Ejikeme manipulated her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka stands firm in his previous offer to plead for her leniency.
Ejikeme had stated that she scored a striking 362 out of 400, asserting herself as the highest-scoring candidate of the year.
However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the examining body, labelled the result as “patently fake,” clarifying that her actual score was 249.
JAMB announced Ejikeme would be barred from taking its mandatory exam for prospective undergraduates for the next three years.
Yet, Chidoka, who also operates the computer-based test (CBT) centre where Ejikeme took her exam, expressed his willingness earlier this week to request JAMB for leniency, contingent on Ejikeme’s admission of guilt.
In a statement released on Saturday, Chidoka reinforced his readiness to intervene on her behalf, saying, “My offer to plead with JAMB still stands and I will do so.”
He further appealed to the public to consider Ejikema’s young age and use this incident as an educational experience.
“Castigating her will be counterproductive. I believe in justice and also in mercy and restoration,” he concluded.
