JAMB Fraud Saga: Mmesoma sent for psychotherapy by Anambra State Govt
The Anambra State Government has taken a significant step in addressing the case of 19-year-old Mmesoma Ejikeme, who forged her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced at a press briefing in Awka on Thursday that Mmesoma has been handed over to a psychotherapist for a three-month guidance and counseling program.
Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, recently made headlines after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exposed her for fraudulently manipulating her UTME score from 249 to 362, falsely portraying herself as the UTME top scorer for 2023.
Following the revelation, JAMB imposed a three-year ban on her, sparking a back-and-forth exchange of accusations.
READ ALSO: JAMB Result Falsification: Mmesoma begs for leniency in apology letter
On Wednesday, Mmesoma appeared before a panel of the House of Representatives in Abuja, where she offered a heartfelt apology to the exam body and pleaded for leniency.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Education recalled that a state panel was set up to investigate the matter thoroughly. After careful consideration, the panel recommended that Mmesoma should undergo psychological counseling and therapy.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Chuma-Udeh said, “We view Mmesoma’s actions as ‘juvenile delinquency,’ something any child could fall victim to. Thus, we believe in providing her with support and guidance rather than condemning her entirely. She is now under the care of a psychotherapist counselor who will guide her through therapy for the next three months. Afterward, the state government will appeal to JAMB management on her behalf, requesting them to reconsider certain aspects of her punishment.”
The commissioner also commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for approving the psychotherapy program for Mmesoma.