Another JAMB Official ‘Steals’ N23 Million, Gives Strange Defence

A few days after the bizarre report that a snake 'swallowed' about N36
million from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board's vault in
Benue State, another state co-ordinator of the board in Nassarawa
state has come up with a rather strange story to back an alleged
fraud.
This time, JAMB staffer, Labaran Tanko, said his car got burnt and in
the process scratch cards worth N23 million were destroyed in the
inferno.
However, not impressed, as in the case of the Benue saga, the board,
reacting through its registrar, dismissed Mr. Tanko's claims.

Few days ago, a JAMB sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, had told JAMB
registrar and his team who conducted fact-finding sessions on alleged
fraud at the Board, that she could not account for N36 million she
made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards by the
organisation.
In the course of interrogation, Ms. Chieshe confessed that her
housemaid "connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to
"spiritually" steal (through a snake) the money from the vault in the
accounts office.
In the case of Mr. Tanko, the board said after a thorough
investigation, it discovered that the cards which reportedly burnt
alongside Mr. Tanko's car were used by students in Nassarawa state to
register.
It said this was easy to discover through simple checks done by its officials.
Mr. Tanko, who made this confession at a session where suspects of
fraud and criminality were interrogated by top officials of the board,
including Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, however stood by his claim.
"I thank God that I am alive today," Mr Tanko told the panel. "I had
an accident on July 3rd 2016. I was not the one that packed the cards
because I was rushed to the hospital, and they came to pack the burnt
scratch cards to the office but it could not be counted. I have the
serial numbers of the cards.
Until Mr. Oloyede's took over as registrar, JAMB candidates usually
purchased scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated
centres to gain access to the board's website for either registration
or to check their admission status.
However, new reforms introduced by Mr. Oloyede, when he assumed office
in 2016, ended the use of scratch cards, replacing it with a more
efficient and effective platforms.
The board also gave reasons why Mr. Tanko's defence was untenable.
"Every (member of ) staff who has scratch cards in their possession
must have the serial numbers. We found out that the cards you claimed
got burnt were used despite the police report you presented to us and
for JAMB, that is N23 million of government money," the registrar said
during the session.
He also said the suspect, just like the lady indicted in Benue, would
be handed over to the police once the board concludes its in-house
investigations.
"Those that we want to transfer have been transferred to the (board)
headquarters until they account for the missing funds. But those we
believe are 'beyond us' will be handed to the police immediately," Mr
Oloyede said.
In a separate reaction when PREMIUM TIMES approached the spokesman of
the board, Fabian Benjamin, he outlined steps taken by the board on
the matter.
"All the suspects have been suspended by the board. In Tanko's case,
the committee has already written a report which the management have
sent to the (Education) ministry. Once it is approved, it will be
done," Mr. Benjamin said.
He also said the board will monitor with careful scrutiny how staff
entrusted with sensitive responsibilities handle government funds
henceforth.
"The fight against corruption by the board was given a boost by the
recent visit by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Given the kind of commendation by
Magu and the confidence reposed in the management of the Oloyede-led
board, we would have no option than to continue to do more," Mr
Benjamin said.