News

JAMB, Mmesoma Trade Words Over Result

Published

3 years ago

July 4, 2023

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has slammed a three-year ban on Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, who is embroiled in the controversy of who scored the highest mark in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted by the Board.

This is just as the Board said it has also cancelled the result obtained by her in the examination.

Speaking with the Vanguard, yesterday evening, the spokesman of the Board, Dr. Benjamin Fabian, accused the lady of engaging in criminal act.

“What she did was to alter a result that was obtained by somebody in the 2021 UTME. She is banned for three years from sitting for the UTME too. That result of hers, where she scored 249, has been cancelled as well,” he said on phone.

Asked how the girl could have altered her result without connivance with somebody in the Board, Fabian said there was no hacking into the Board’s facility.

“Our results are safe and nobody has hacked into them. She only altered her results, and the QR code will always show her true result,” he added.

However, Mmesoma, in a post on her Facebook wall, denied any wrong doing.

“They are just trying to harass me and my family. After the results were released over two months ago, why is it taking them this long to say what they are saying now? Now, using the QR code is indicating another name – Omotola Afolabi – which initially showed a score of 138 and, later, 338. Somebody cannot have two different results from the same examination.

“I cannot do what they are accusing me of. I have been a brilliant girl from my Nursery School days. I scored over 300 in my common entrance examination to secondary school,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State government has said it bust up the whole thing when it suspected that the score was fake.

This came as the chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who earlier announced a N3 million scholarship to the girl, said she can no longer access the fund until the investigation is completed.

Mmesoma became an instant celebrity after her alleged 362 scores went viral as the overall best score in the 2023 UTME.

JAMB on Sunday, declared Mmesoma’s 362 UTME score as fake, and revealed that her score was manually inflated, as her original score was 249. JAMB also announced the immediate withdrawal of Mmesoma’s UTME score.

Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said she was the one that raised the alarm after the girl honoured an invitation in the process of the plan by the state government to honour her.

Chuma- Udeh said that after Mmesoma’s result was published online, she invited the girl for recognition by the state government, adding that when Mmesoma brought her result, she observed that it was not directly from the JAMB printout.

According to her, it was at that point that she became suspicious, which made her get in touch with JAMB to confirm the result, stating that she was taken aback when JAMB told her that what was circulating was not its result.

She said it was at that point that her ministry turned back the girl, while JAMB began an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the founder of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who announced the N3 million university scholarship award to the 16-year-old Mmesoma shortly after her result went viral, has said that with the latest development, the girl can no longer access the fund, although the money had been paid into a dedicated account.

Describing the revelation as very unfortunate, Chukwuma said he was excited when he heard that the young girl came tops in the UTME, especially when he found out that she studied in a public school.

He said: “When I was told that a student of a public school recorded the highest score in the JAMB examination, I sent for the principal of the school and the principal confirmed to me that it was true that the girl scored the mark.

“I said to myself that such a brilliant girl if properly educated, will be beneficial to our country and the world at large, so I decided to award her a scholarship so that nothing will stop her from attaining a university education.

“When I awarded her the scholarship, I deposited ¦ 3,000,000 in a dedicated bank account and told the principal that the money is strictly meant for Mmesoma’s education in the university, which means that any time she needs to pay any fee in the school, they will let me know so that I will sign for withdrawal of the money from the account. “

Mmesoma claimed to have scored 98 marks in English Language, 89 in Physics, 94 in Biology and 81 in Chemistry.

Incidentally, JAMB said the true highest scorer is also from Anambra State like Mmesoma. He is Umeh Nkechinyere with 360 marks.

News

Read How Ex-Edo IDP Became A PhD Student In US Varsity

Published

8 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Ishaku Amos, a native of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, on Wednesday narrated how his life was transformed from displacement to academic excellence.

Amos, who currently pursues a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago, in the United States, spoke when he paid a visit to the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) at the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Edo State.

The excited Amos, who once lived in Home for the Needy Foundation,
said the organisation played a decisive role in changing the course of his life.

According to him, after completing his undergraduate studies at Edo State University, Iyamho, he secured a scholarship for doctoral studies abroad.

He narrated how he left Nigeria in August with the support of Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Coordinator of the IDP Camp in Uhogua.

“I had never travelled outside Nigeria before. I grew up in the North and in the camp, so everything was new to me. Having him accompany me made the transition easier and gave me confidence.”

Amos explained that adjusting to life in the United States would have been difficult without that support.

“It was a new culture, a new system and a different weather. But I was prepared. I was guided on what to expect and how to adapt, so I didn’t experience culture shock. He made sure I was comfortable before returning to Nigeria.”

Speaking on his past, Amos described himself as a victim of terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.

“Anyone who says these things are not happening should listen to my story.

“I know what I suffered. People sometimes talk because they have not experienced it. When you have lived through killings and displacement, you can never deny the reality,” he said.

He expressed deep gratitude to the Home for the Needy Foundation, saying words were not enough to appreciate what the organisation did for him and thousands of others.

“They changed my narrative and my understanding of life. Despite our trauma, they never gave up on us. They paid for our exams even when we failed and had to try again. They kept telling us to focus and try one more time.”

Amos said his experience has inspired him to give back to society and support vulnerable people in the future.

He also appealed to the Borno State Government and lawmakers from his area to support displaced indigenes.

“They know we exist and that we are Borno indigenes, but we have been ignored for too long. We are calling on them to clear outstanding school fees and provide scholarships. We will continue to call until something is done.”

News

Minister Suspends Aide Over 2027 Governorship Election Write-up

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has formally distanced himself from a political article titled “Malagi 2027,” which speculated on potential scenarios ahead of the 2027 Niger State governorship election.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the minister’s office clarified that the article was published without authorization by one of his aides, Sa’idu Enagi, emphasizing that the opinions expressed do not represent Idris’ views or intentions.

“The write-up and all its contents are hereby vehemently disclaimed,” the statement affirmed, urging the public to disregard the publication.

The statement noted that the minister remains fully dedicated to his duties at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and has no interest in, nor tolerance for political distractions or premature electioneering.

It further stressed that he neither approved nor directed the publication of the write-up.

Following the incident, the minister has ordered an immediate investigation, and the aide responsible has been suspended with immediate effect.

The statement also underscored the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the minister and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, highlighting their joint commitment to the development and stability of the state.

“Speculations about the 2027 elections would be inimical to these noble objectives,” the statement added.

The disclaimer was signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the minister.

News

How To Calculate Your Taxable Income

Published

18 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Contents

Current Personal Income Tax Brackets (2026 Onward)

Personal income tax applies to:

*Residents: on worldwide income

*Non-residents: on Nigeria-sourced income

For employees, tax is usually deducted at source under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.

Current Personal Income Tax Brackets (2026 Onward)

Nigeria operates a progressive tax system, meaning income is taxed in layers. Only the portion of income within each band is taxed at the applicable rate.

Annual Taxable Income (₦)	Tax Rate
First ₦800,000	0%
Next ₦1,400,000 (₦800,001 – ₦3,000,000)	15%
Next ₦9,000,000 (₦3,000,001 – ₦12,000,000)	18%
Next ₦13,000,000 (₦12,000,001 – ₦25,000,000)	21%
Next ₦25,000,000 (₦25,000,001 – ₦50,000,000)	23%
Above ₦50,000,000	25%

Your tax bracket refers to the highest (marginal) rate that applies to any portion of your income.
For example:

₦10 million → 18% bracket

₦60 million → 25% bracket

Steps to Calculate Your Taxable Income

1. Determine Your Gross Income

Add all annual earnings, including:

Salary and wages
Bonuses and allowances
Business or professional income
Rental income and other earnings

2. Subtract Allowable Deductions and Reliefs

These include:

Pension contribution: 8% of salary (employee portion)
National Housing Fund (NHF) (where applicable)
Rent relief: higher of ₦500,000 or 20% of annual rent paid
Other approved deductions (e.g. life insurance premiums, eligible mortgage interest)

Note: The former Consolidated Relief Allowance (CRA) has been abolished.

3. Arrive at Taxable Income

Taxable income = Gross income – deductions and reliefs

4. Apply the Progressive Tax Rates

Tax each portion of income according to the applicable band.

Worked Example

Annual gross salary: ₦15,000,000

Pension (8%): ₦1,200,000
Rent relief: ₦600,000

Taxable income:
₦15,000,000 − ₦1,200,000 − ₦600,000 = ₦13,200,000

Tax Breakdown:

First ₦800,000 @ 0% = ₦0
Next ₦2,200,000 @ 15% = ₦330,000
Next ₦9,000,000 @ 18% = ₦1,620,000
Remaining ₦1,200,000 @ 21% = ₦252,000

Total tax payable: ₦2,202,000
Marginal tax rate: 21%
Effective tax rate: ~16.7%

Important Notes

Low-income earners, including those below the minimum wage threshold, may be fully exempt.
PAYE administration may vary slightly by state.
For exact figures, taxpayers should consult their state internal revenue service or a licensed tax professional.

Source: Tribune