The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has broken its silence on the controversial case of Chinedu Okeke, a candidate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing recent social media narratives as misleading and emotionally charged.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said the situation underscores a troubling trend where individuals manipulate public sentiment to distort facts and shield irregularities.
Dr. Benjamin made it clear that JAMB’s operations are anchored on verifiable data and legal processes—not emotions. He said contrary to viral reports, Chinedu Okeke is not from Anambra State, as has been claimed in several online narratives.
“Records available to the Board confirm that Mr. Chinedu Okeke hails from Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. He registered for the 2021 UTME using this information and subsequently secured admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study Medicine and Surgery,” the statement read.
According to JAMB, Chinedu is currently in his fourth year at the university, and there is no official communication from the institution disputing this. However, concerns were raised after the same individual surfaced again in 2025, this time attempting to gain admission into another programme—Mechanical Engineering—allegedly using altered personal details to claim Anambra State origin.
“This raises serious questions,” Dr. Benjamin said. “Why would a 400-level medical student abandon his programme to start afresh in another course, while inconsistently altering his personal information?”
The Board further noted that identity verification during registration is done through the National Identification Number (NIN), and the claim that JAMB retrieved incorrect data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is “false and calculated to mislead the public.”
JAMB also accused some social media activists of reaching out to Chinedu’s parents for emotional appeals instead of seeking facts from relevant institutions.
“We find it disturbing that rather than engage with the university or request clarifications from appropriate quarters, these individuals have resorted to emotionally blackmailing the system by portraying Chinedu as a victim,” the Board stated.
While reaffirming its commitment to fairness, JAMB said it would continue to treat Chinedu with dignity as long as his status as a student remains valid. However, should the University of Nigeria confirm any breach of academic or identity records, the Board said it would take up the matter with the Medical and Dental Council for necessary disciplinary action, including possible delisting.
The statement concluded with a strong warning to those attempting to exploit loopholes in the admission process for personal gain.
“Chinedu took advantage of Lagos State’s admission quota in 2021 and is now attempting to benefit again under the Anambra State quota in 2025. Such actions deny other deserving candidates their rightful opportunities,” the Board maintained.
JAMB emphasized that it is not witch-hunting any candidate but is determined to uphold integrity in the nation’s tertiary education admission process.
“When a nation trivializes illegalities, it breeds a future fraught with potential criminality,” Dr. Benjamin warned.
The case has continued to stir debate online, with many calling for deeper scrutiny into identity verification systems and state-based admission quotas. As the story unfolds, the education community and the public alike await further developments from the University of Nigeria and regulatory bodies.
STAY UPDATED ON ALL EDUCATIONAL NEWS BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE BELOW
Thanks for your Comment.