N36M SNAKE: THE TRUTH REVEALED

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested accomplices that specialize in diverting funds from the account of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB).



The EFCC also grilled a JAMB official based in Makurdi, Philomina Chieshe who initially claimed that a snake swallowed N36M  which was part of the proceeds of the sale of scratch cards but revealed under oath when interrogated by EFCC that the N36M was collected in instalments from her by her coordinator, Mr. Samuel Umoru.  She revealed that the coordinator usually asked her to withdraw proceeds of the sale of the cards from her account in two banks. She reviewed more that the coordinator used the money for the office and some for himself. "

It was learnt that Umaru has also been arrested and questioned about claims by Chieshe but was later released based on Administrative bail.

It was learnt that before the advent of the Treasury single account by president Buhari, the practice at the time was for JAMB officials to keep the proceeds of the sale of cards in unauthorised bank accounts which led to the loss of billions of naira. Some withdrawals which were made included the N340,000 withdrawn on May 5 and 26, 2014 via ATM card. N120,000 between June 17 and 18, 2014. N640,000 between June 30  and July 7, 2014. 

The interesting part of the disclosure is that Chieshe's statement was made known before the snake drama. She was first quizzed in February 16, 2017.