Richard Ginika Izuora
Two staff of the
The management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has arrested two staff members for alleged extortion from Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates with the promise to help them secure university admission.
The staff members are Andy Okoro and Gambo Abba.
Okoro, a level 12 officer in Delta State JAMB’s office, was said to have collected ₦500,000 from four candidates’ parents, out of which he paid ₦180,000 to a colleague, Gambo, to help facilitate their admission.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, said the deal became a public knowledge when one of the parents in Delta State petitioned JAMB on Okoro’s activities.
Following the petition the Board immediately launched an investigation into the issue.
Oloyede expressed surprise that the affected staff defied the Board’s zero tolerance for corruption as he vowed to ensure they face the full wrath of the law.
He insisted that anybody who engages in sharp practices, no matter who the person is, shall not be protected by the Board because the Board has zero-tolerance for corruption.
Oloyede, therefore, called on parents and candidates not to allow anyone to collect money from them; in the guise of helping them secure admission to their chosen institution, as the system is now fully automated.
He said that “What is happening now is that people know those that will be admitted; because they know by the automation this person could be admitted; and they now go and be extorting the parents of those that have already been slated for admission.
“We need to let the public know that there is no halfway to admission. Nobody should bribe or give any amount to anybody; whether they are JAMB staff or they are not JAMB staff. Anybody who solicit money from any parent; the parent should inform the Board.”
