IVM Innoson Group, makers of Innosom Motors said on Monday that it has launched and “independent investigation” into allegations that Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma inflated her Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result from original score of 249 to 362.
In May, Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra State, gained popularity for allegedly scoring 362 in this year’s UTME.
Innocent Chukwuma, founder of Innoson Motors, also awarded a N3 million scholarship to the student for her supposed heroics.
But on Sunday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said the student was not the top scorer as claimed, adding that she actually got 249 in the exam.
The board said the student allegedly manipulated her result to “deceive the public to fraudulently obtain scholarship and other recognitions.”
JAMB also vowed to prosecute the student and others that allegedly manipulated their results in due course.
On Monday morning, Head Corporate Communications IVM Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, however said that if the company found that the girl “willfully manipulated her result, we shall withdraw the scholarship.”
But he added: “If we observe she is innocent of the accusation, then the scholarship stands, whether she is the best or not.”
Earlier on Sunday, Osigwe has said: “That girl was one of the most brilliant in her school, according to the Principal. Her parents couldn’t even afford to pay for her WEAC and NECO Exams. Of what advantage will it offer her to manipulate her JAMB score? Let the poor breathe pls.
“The girl I met doesn’t have the brain and capacity to manipulate her result. There is more to this story. A proper investigation needs to be done. Abeg let the poor breath.