The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says it has suspended its staff, Philomina Chieshe, after claims that N36m had been swallowed by a snake in the board’s office in Makurdi, Benue State.
JAMB Head of Information, Fabian Benjamin, told Sahara Reporters that she would undergo disciplinary measures just as investigations as to the missing funds would be conducted by Security agencies.
“She has been suspended and she is going through all other disciplinary procedures while the investigation is ongoing on the matter. Her claim was that a snake came into the office and swallowed the N36m proceeds.” Benjamin said.
The official had said a snake crept into the office and swallowed the money obtained from the sale of JAMB scratch cards.
The woman reportedly told the team that she could not account for N36m made in the previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.
However, in the course of interrogation, Chieshe reportedly changed the narrative, saying that it was her housemaid who connived with another woman, Joan Asen, to “spiritually steal the money” from the vault in the accounts office.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had begun an investigation into the matter following a recommendation by the Federal Executive Council late last year that JAMB should be investigated.
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who briefed council about the performances of some government agencies last year had said JAMB for the first time remitted N5bn to the government’s coffers with a promise to pay the balance of N3bn compared to maximum N3m remitted yearly in the last 40 years.
Adeosun had said the disparity in the remittances of agency in the past had necessitated the decision to probe all previous heads of the two agencies.
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