By Ubong Usoro
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disowned the admission of a graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Basola Jamiu Owodunni, stating that he was not offered admission through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The clarification came on Sunday via a statement signed by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in response to a viral video in which Basola alleged that JAMB had invalidated his university admission seven years after he was enrolled.
Basola, who said he gained admission into FUTA in 2018 to study civil engineering after sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2017, graduated in 2024 with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.41.
He explained that his ordeal began during his final clearance when FUTA’s Student Affairs Division informed him that his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation had been rejected because his name was not found on the JAMB matriculation list.
He said, “I was advised to check the JAMB matriculation list, which labelled my admission as fake.”
Basola claimed that repeated attempts to access his JAMB portal were unsuccessful.
He said when he visited the JAMB office, he was reportedly told that his case was suspicious and should be referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
“I eventually submitted myself to the DSS, hoping it would speed up the resolution process. I was detained for hours by both the DSS and police before being released following a friend’s intervention,” he added.
In the viral video, Basola stated that an official from FUTA’s admissions office had presented documents at the police station showing that his admission followed due process at the university level.
He also noted that the police promised to send a report to the Commissioner of Police in Abuja.
However, as of the time of his recording, he claimed that JAMB headquarters had not responded.
Basola said he had reached out to several university authorities—including the registrar, vice-chancellor, and chairman of the admission committee—pleading for intervention.
“I feel helpless. Even the university seems unsure of what steps to take,” he said.
JAMB Reacts
Responding to the matter, JAMB said it is not responsible for offering or recommending candidates for admission but only approves those recommended by tertiary institutions through CAPS.
“While we do not dispute that the individual may have studied at FUTA, he is not known to JAMB based on our admission records,” the statement read.
“He did not follow the due process, and as such, the Board cannot validate or insert him into the system for NYSC or other official purposes.”
JAMB further alleged that Basola possessed a document not issued by the Board and urged him to explain how he obtained it, as this could help clarify the situation.
The Board also cautioned against attempts to use emotional narratives, such as being an orphan or coming from a disadvantaged background, to sway public opinion on issues of due process.
“This case explains the importance of accepting admission only through the official CAPS platform and ensuring proper documentation,” JAMB advised.
Despite its stance, the Board said it remains committed to fairness: “If it is eventually confirmed that Basola complied with all admission requirements, JAMB will not hesitate to support him and defend his rights.”
