Court Adjourns Trial of Four Suspects Arrested for JAMB Registration Malpractice in Ondo

Fidelis David in Akure

A Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday adjourned the trial of four suspects arrested for registration impersonation and examination malpractices of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in Ondo State.

The registration impersonation suspects are Timilehin Akinwale, Olayinka Mustapha, and Peter Okereke, while Feranmi Adesuyi was arraigned for examination impersonation.

According to the charge sheet, “The first three defendants committed the impersonation act on February 15 at Aina Awaw International College, Ilu Abo in Akure, which was a CBT centre for JAMB registration and examination.

“That you Okereke Peter, 29; Akinwale Timilehin, 22, and Mustapha Olayinka Idris, 23, on February 15, 2023, at  Aina Awaw International College, Ilu Abo, a CBT Centre for JAMB registration and examination in Akure, Ondo State, within the jurisdiction of this court did impersonate Folarin Damlok, Kazeem Imisi, and Tijani Sheun respectively, during CBT JAMB registration contrary to Section 3(3)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004, and punishable under the same Section.

“That you Feranmi Adesuyi, 29, on or about April 28, 2023, at Amable CBT centre, Owo, during the 2023 JAMB examination in Ondo State, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire with one Sanusi Tunde, who is now at large, to complete his registration and also impersonated the said Sanusi Tunde for the JAMB examination, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of Examination Malpractices Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3(2)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

It said the offence was contrary to Section 3(3)(c) of the Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004 and punishable under the same Section.

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, an official of the JAMB, Smith Oseinat Ayodele, told the court that Feranmi Adesuyi was arrested for examination impersonation.

According to her, “Adesuyi committed the said offence on April 28 at Amable CBT Centre in Owo, during the 2023 JAMB examination.”

Smith told the court she served as Biometric Registration Officer at the centre while testifying as a prosecution witness.

She said Feranmi approached her to verify his thumbprint before proceeding to write the examination, but that the picture displayed from the thumbprint was different from Feranmi.

According to her, “He was looking different from the picture uploaded in the JAMB portal. I questioned him and he said he was the same person in the picture. I asked him again and he repeated it. After analysing everything, I asked him to step aside. I called other examination officers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. They checked everything and tried to question him. He later confessed that he was helping another candidate.”

Also, the prosecuting counsel, Moses Osimhen, applied for a date to enable him call more witnesses.

The Presiding Judge, Justice T. B. Adegoke, reserved ruling on the bail application by counsel to Feranmi, and said the date would be communicated to parties in the suit.

Justice Adegoke also adjourned till November 13, 2023, the ruling for trial and bail application for three persons arrested for UTME registration impersonation.

Meanwhile, the suspects and their relatives broke down in tears when the judge announced the adjournment date as they were first remanded in prison custody on May 24, 2023.