In a disturbing turn of events, a Nigerian father has taken his daughter’s case to the Senate after alleging that a supervisor at the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) deliberately withheld his daughter’s exam results, possibly due to an inappropriate interaction with her. The father, Onyebuchi Obioha, claims that the supervisor, whose name is Mutiu Olayemi, gave his phone number to his 16-year-old daughter, Chizitere Audrey Obioha, after the exam. The result was withheld under the excuse of an “examination infraction,” but the father strongly believes that the supervisor’s actions are the real cause.
The incident began when Chizitere sat for the UTME at Wisdom House CBT Center in Ogba, Lagos, on April 22, 2024. Onyebuchi Obioha personally took his daughter to the center, dropped her off, and then waited nearby while she took the exam. After the exam, Chizitere told her father that everything had gone well. However, when the JAMB results were released, Chizitere’s result was missing, and instead, the status showed “Alleged Examination Infraction.”
This unexpected outcome led the father to investigate further. He asked Chizitere if she had done anything wrong or if there had been any issues during the exam. According to him, she denied any problems. Concerned, he reached out to JAMB’s office for clarification. He said he was told to open a ticket with the system, which he did on April 30, 2024. Despite multiple follow-ups over the following months, JAMB failed to provide a satisfactory answer.
In late June, Onyebuchi and a relative visited the JAMB office in Ikoyi, Lagos. There, they were told that the “infraction” could involve various serious offenses such as bringing unauthorized materials into the exam hall, cheating with another candidate, or using a device during the exam. Onyebuchi was baffled. He strongly believed that Chizitere was innocent, as she had no devices with her during the exam. She had no history of cheating, and she had not filled out any malpractice form, a claim JAMB had suggested.
What seemed to stand out to Onyebuchi was a suspicious encounter his daughter had after the exam. According to Chizitere, a man approached her as she was finishing her exam. This man allegedly complimented her name and then handed her a small piece of paper with a phone number written on it, asking her to call him later. Chizitere showed her father the piece of paper, which he immediately recognized as a phone number.
Onyebuchi, alarmed by this, decided to call the number right away. The person on the other end of the line denied having given his number to Chizitere, claiming it was a wrong number. But Onyebuchi persisted and confronted him, telling him that the number he had dialed was correct. The person then abruptly ended the call. The father later learned that the phone number was registered under the name Mutiu Olayemi.
After the phone call incident, Onyebuchi’s wife also tried to contact the man, but he again denied any involvement and cut the call. A WhatsApp message was sent later in the evening, demanding an apology and that the man cease his actions. No response was received. When Onyebuchi looked up the number online, it was registered under the name Mutiu Olayemi, confirming his suspicions.
Despite the serious accusations, Mutiu Olayemi, the supervisor in question, denied all claims of misconduct. In a phone conversation with a reporter, he stated that he did not give his phone number to Chizitere or any other candidate during or after the exam. Olayemi further explained that he had been summoned to JAMB’s office in Abuja, where he was instructed to defend himself against the allegations. He added that he was not the one who reported Chizitere for an examination infraction, but rather the resident monitor at the center.
Olayemi’s denials have only fueled the suspicion that something more sinister may be at play. Onyebuchi has gone public with his allegations, asking JAMB to provide any evidence that would justify withholding his daughter’s result. He is demanding that if his daughter is guilty of an infraction, the full weight of the law should apply, but if she is innocent, justice should be served.
Unable to get satisfactory answers from JAMB, Onyebuchi took the matter to the Nigerian Senate. He filed a petition through Senator Neda Imasuen, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. In his petition, Onyebuchi raised several points, including his firm belief that his daughter was wrongfully accused and that the supervisor’s inappropriate behavior was the real issue.
In his petition, Onyebuchi stated: “If it is claimed that she filled a malpractice form, a forensic audit of that form will prove that she was the one who filled it, and if she was also caught on CCTV, please let that evidence be provided by JAMB.” He further emphasized that if the allegations were unfounded, it was critical that justice be served and that the supervisor be held accountable for his actions.
This case highlights the wider issue of corruption and misconduct in the Nigerian educational system. The UTME, organized by JAMB, is a critical examination that determines the future of millions of Nigerian students. Any form of manipulation or abuse by those in charge can have far-reaching consequences, not only for the individual students but also for the integrity of the entire system.
While it is essential to ensure that cheating and malpractices are kept in check, it is equally important to make sure that innocent students are not unjustly punished. The incident has raised questions about the transparency of JAMB’s handling of examination results and its accountability mechanisms. Onyebuchi’s case may only be one among many where students feel victimized or unfairly treated, and this incident could serve as a wake-up call for reforms.
As the case moves forward, it remains to be seen how JAMB will respond to the allegations. The Senate has now become involved, and Onyebuchi is hopeful that the truth will eventually come to light. The key question now is whether JAMB can provide concrete evidence to support their claim of an “examination infraction” or if the supervisor will be held responsible for his alleged inappropriate behavior.
In the meantime, Onyebuchi continues to fight for justice for his daughter, Chizitere. He hopes that the truth will be revealed and that his daughter’s name will be cleared. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in the examination process and the need for proper conduct by all involved, from supervisors to students.
For Chizitere and her family, the road ahead is uncertain, but they are determined to ensure that their voices are heard and that justice is done.
