Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
Two Hundred and thirty students of the Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, are on the verge of losing their admission following the allegation of obtaining them through fraudulent processes.
Imo State University has been under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, over alleged admission racketeering in the institution.
The JAMB Spokesperson, M Fabian Benjamin, who confirmed that the 230 fake admissions were traced to the university in the course of the investigation, said the students whose names were on the fake admission letters have also been interrogated by the ICPC.
Mr Benjamin said that about 10 staff of the university involved in the admission office were arrested through the help of the Vice Chancellor who ensured that any staff including those in his office, involved, was not spared.
He said that although most of the students involved in the fake admissions saga were in their final years, they would certainly lose their admissions.
“Even the 230 students whose names were on the fake admission letters were also interrogated and their admission would be withdrawn. Some of the students are in the 400 level, and some are in the 300 level but whoever is involved will certainly lose that admission,” Benjamin said.
In his response, the Spokesperson for IMSU, Mr. Ralph Njokuobi, explained that the Management of the institution went on air to announce its involvement and ignorance of the 230 fake admissions issued to the students, noting that the university is surrounded by scammers.
“So, we announced the names (of the students with fake admission) to the public because JAMB officials came to our university and brought it to our attention that they didn’t clear them. We told the public that they (students with fake admission) were just parading themselves as our students and that they were not our students.”
“We didn’t know because we have scammers who have surrounded both in and out of the university, which is a very large place,” Njokuobi explained.
