By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the action of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) against a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi in Anambra State, Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme, describing it as an Igbophobic discrimination, gross incompetence, and flagrant violation of her child rights.

It said that the recent case of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma's alleged fake JAMB score has ignited a firestorm of public outrage across national dailies and social media platforms.

The group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and made available to News Express on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, lamented that JAMB, without proper substantiation, accused Ejikeme of manipulating her UTME result to fraudulently obtain scholarships and recognition.

The statement partly reads: This reckless and seemingly official statement has resulted in a relentless condemnation of an innocent girl who achieved the highest score in the JAMB examination.

It is worth noting that JAMB has failed to provide crucial details, such as how the alleged manipulation occurred, when it happened, whether it was an individual act or involved a group of individuals, or even the specific app or software supposedly used to hack JAMB's database or server. It is clear that the distinction between manual and electronic manipulation has been deliberately blurred by JAMB.

By launching these baseless accusations against Miss Ejikeme, JAMB has not only undermined her reputation but has also shown a complete disregard for her rights as a child, as outlined in the Child Rights Act of 2003.

Section 11(c) of this Act explicitly states that every child is entitled to respect for their dignity and should not be subjected to attacks upon their honor or reputation. JAMB's actions have demonstrated either a gross ignorance of or contempt for Nigerian laws, particularly those protecting the rights of children.

We firmly believe that JAMB's motive behind this senseless attack on Miss Ejikeme is rooted in Igbophobic discrimination. The repeated mention of Anambra State and INNOSON in their ill-advised public statement suggests a biased agenda aimed at undermining a young girl's achievements simply because of her geographical and ethnic background. This reprehensible act is a clear violation of the principles of fairness, equality, and the rights of Nigerian citizens.

While expressing concern about the allegations of partisanship and inefficiency surrounding the current head of JAMB; Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, HURIWA said that reports suggest controversies trailed his appointment as JAMB Registrar, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strongly opposing it.

It cited that a news report published by Daily Post on August 15, 2016, harped on the concern raised by ASUU about Oloyede's anti-democratic and anti-union antecedents during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, saying that he was accused of testifying falsely against workers before the Industrial Arbitration Panel in the case of the sacked UNILORIN 49.

According to HURIWA, there were also allegations of mismanagement, including manipulating the system to benefit his family members and mishandling funds meant for the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

It noted that the allegations have led to calls for a probe into Oloyede's activities as the Vice Chancellor of UNILORIN.

It added: Again, in 2017, as reported by Daily Post on January 2, 2017, Oloyede had faced serious corruption allegations, with ASUU petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accusing Oloyede and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin of being involved in a N2 billion fraud. Oloyede vehemently denied these allegations, calling his accusers liars and threatening legal action against them.

In another instance, a Deputy Director of JAMB, Yisa Usman, was recently arraigned on charges of threatening and blackmailing Prof. Oloyede's wife. The alleged communication, deemed 'grossly offensive, indecent, or criminal intimidation,' was carried out using a network computer system. Usman pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Additionally, on May 14, 2023, as reported by Vanguard, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), called for Oloyede's resignation due to the hardships faced by students during the Direct Entry registration process. Students were reportedly forced to sleep outside the JAMB office in Lagos for several days as they struggled to register. NANS had described Oloyede as a failure and demanded his immediate resignation.

Moreover, the House of Representatives decision to probe JAMB over allegations of imposing multiple fees on candidates in April 2022 was met with criticism from Oloyede. He viewed it as a move in bad faith and expressed disappointment with the legislators, claiming that the allegations were falsehoods intended to discourage JAMB's work.

While it is crucial to recognize that these are allegations and should be treated as such until proven otherwise, the seriousness of the accusations raises concerns about the leadership and integrity of JAMB under Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. It is essential that these allegations be thoroughly investigated to ascertain the truth and ensure transparency within JAMB's operations.

Therefore, we call upon the Anambra State Government, women advocacy groups, and all relevant authorities to protect the image of Miss Ejikeme and take necessary actions against JAMB for its alleged misconduct. As a minor, she lacks the capacity to defend herself in cyberspace and deserves the full protection of her rights as stipulated in the Child Rights Act.

HURIWA further said it was in collaboration with women's groups and civil society organizations, standing united in defending Miss Ejikeme, upholding the Child Rights Act, and safeguarding the rights and well-being of Nigerian children.

The rights group insisted that JAMB must provide reparations to Miss Ejikeme for the unwarranted assault on her dignity, honor, and reputation.

We stand firmly with Miss Joy Ejikeme who bravely came forward and shared a video of the original result she printed from the JAMB portal. Her actions highlight the manipulative tactics employed by JAMB to discredit innocent students, particularly those from the Igbo ethnic group. It is disheartening to witness such systemic discrimination and victimization within an institution that should be dedicated to promoting fairness and equal opportunities.

In her video, Miss Joy Ejikeme unequivocally asserts her innocence, confirming that she never tampered with her results. She visited an internet cafe to print her results, only to be handed a result slip with an aggregate score of 362, which she displayed for all to see. This act of bravery is a testament to the distress and trauma she has endured due to JAMB's false accusations.

We call upon the Nigerian public to rally behind Miss Joy Ejikeme and reject the flagrant abuse of power displayed by JAMB. This incident is not an isolated case but a reflection of a broader pattern of discrimination that must be addressed. No student should have to face such unjust treatment, and the rights of every Nigerian child must be safeguarded.

HURIWA demands that JAMB be held accountable for its actions. We urge Miss Joy Ejikeme to pursue legal recourse and seek adequate compensation for the damages she has suffered.

Furthermore, we call upon the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Education and the National Human Rights Commission, to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter. JAMB must be held to the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and fairness in order to restore public confidence in its operations.

Supporting children with exceptional academic achievements is of paramount importance, and we implore Nigerians to exercise caution in accepting the unfounded allegations and infamy surrounding JAMB until the outcome of an independent investigation is made public.

We echo the concerns raised by critics regarding JAMB's press release, which repeatedly focused on Anambra State rather than addressing the credibility of its own examination process. This raises suspicion and suggests a hidden agenda at play, according to the statement.

It further demanded an immediate apology from JAMB to Miss Ejikeme and the Nigerian public for its failure to properly utilize the substantial public funds at its disposal in establishing an effective and seamless matriculation examination process, saying that JAMB must be held accountable for the unwarranted assault on Miss Ejikeme's dignity, honor, and reputation.

HURIWA will continue to closely monitor the developments of this case and provide unwavering support to Miss Joy Ejikeme. We call on all Nigerians who believe in justice, equality, and the protection of human rights to stand united against Igbophobic discrimination, inefficiency, and the violation of child rights perpetuated by JAMB.

Equally, we urge the Federal Government, the National Child Rights Implementation Committee, and the Anambra State Government to initiate an immediate and discreet investigation into the activities of JAMB, including the allegations of partisanship and inefficiency surrounding its current head, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

This investigation should include an examination of JAMB's database to determine whether any manipulation has occurred, either by Miss Ejikeme as alleged or by JAMB officials seeking to tarnish the reputation of an innocent girl and bring dishonor upon Anambra State.

Also, we want the Federal Government to take decisive action in ensuring that competent and experienced individuals are appointed to positions of authority within federal agencies. The detrimental consequences of selecting individuals lacking merit and competency have been evident, resulting in the erosion of public trust in institutions such as JAMB.

We trust that the collective efforts of the Nigerian people and advocacy groups will bring about the necessary reforms to ensure a just and equitable education system for all, the group stated.