Court Sentences ‘Professor’ to Six Months in Prison for Impersonation During UTME

A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Jide Josiah Jisos, a man who falsely claimed to be a professor, to six months in prison for attempting to impersonate his daughter during the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Officials from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) apprehended Jisos while he was monitoring the UTME at Brix Academy in Abuja. According to a press release from JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Jisos had presented himself to the examination officials as a representative of a non-governmental organization (NGO), claiming he was there to oversee the examination.

However, Jisos’ story fell apart when he was questioned by the leader of the monitoring team. The official asked him to clarify his presence at the examination center, but Jisos could not provide any proof to support his claims. He was quickly arrested and handed over to security personnel for further investigation.

During the investigation, Jisos confessed that he was not affiliated with any NGO and admitted that he had come to the examination hall to assist his daughter in taking the 2019 UTME.

Chief Magistrate Justice Folashade Oyekan found Jisos guilty of a single charge of impersonation. In her ruling, she sentenced him to six months in prison but offered an alternative penalty of a N100,000 fine.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges JAMB faces in ensuring the integrity of the examination process. Dr. Benjamin reiterated JAMB’s commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent examination environment. “We will continue to take strict measures against anyone who attempts to undermine the examination process,” he stated.

The incident serves as a reminder that attempting to cheat the system not only carries severe consequences but also jeopardizes the future of students who are working hard to achieve their academic goals.