Lawyer invokes Freedom of Information Act against JAMB for withholding top UTME scores

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An Abuja-based lawyer, Chief Chukwuma Nwachukwu, has taken action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its decision to keep information about the top scorers in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) undisclosed.

Dissatisfied with this stance, he has invoked the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) in his search for transparency.

In a letter addressed to JAMB, Chief Nwachukwu formally requested the names and scores of the highest-performing candidates in the 2024 UTME, citing the provisions of the FOI Act.

He argued that it is unjustifiable for JAMB to withhold this information, especially when it has already provided a breakdown of candidates’ performance on April 29.

Chief Nwachukwu has directed his request to Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar General of JAMB, seeking prompt compliance within seven days.

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He specifically seeks details on the top ten students and their respective performances in the examination.

“The above application is made under the provisions of Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act,
2011 which provides that.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, law or regulation, the right of any person co access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described or established.

“An Applicant under this Act needs not demonstrate any specific interest in the information being applied for.

“Any person entitled to the right to information under this Act, shall have the right to institute proceedings in the Court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of this Act.

“Take Notice that the aforesaid law further provides that I should receive the information applied for within 7 days.
“Necessary Fees regarding this application shall be paid,” the letter further read.

News Round The Clock earlier reported that JAMB had in the results of the UTME it announced to the public, disclosed that barely a quarter of the total candidates scored above 200.

Statistics released by the body showed that out of 1,904,189 candidates who sat for the exams, 1,402,490 (73.7%) of the students scored below 200.

The statistics also showed that the results of 64,624 candidates were withheld and equally a 36.2% increase in the enrollment of Persons Living With Disabilities, PLWDs.