… As JAMB assures justice in 15-year old data protection violation case

A Grade One Area Court sitting at Aco Estate, Abuja, has convicted a computer-based test (CBT) centre owner, Ezechinoso Augustine, of registration infraction, concealment, breach of trust and theft.

The accused, who operates a CBT centre in Onitsha Anambra State was charged with criminal breach of trust, concealment, registration infraction(cheating) and theft.

A statement by the Spokesperson, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin, said the Presiding Judge, Aliyu Kagarko found the suspect guilty on all four counts.

According to the statement, on criminal breach of trust, the judge sentenced the accused to nine-month imprisonment with an option of N30,000 fine, even as he was handed six-month imprisonment or a fine of N20,000 on attempt to commit the offence of cheating.

Ezechinoso was also found guilty of intent to conceal, which attracted three-month imprisonment term or the payment of a fine of N10,000 while the fourth count charge – theft – attracted eight months or an option of N30,000 fine.

Reacting, the JAMB spokesperson welcomed the judgement and warned would-be infractors to desist from their nefarious agenda or face the full wrath of the law.

The Board also warned of the array of technological devices at its disposal and which had enabled real-time detection of infractions. It, therefore, cautioned that it would not hesitate to wield the big stick on any person or groups, no matter how highly-placed, who might wish to undermine the Board.

“The Board reassures the public that it would not leave any stone unturned to protect its systems and clients against any forms of violation,” the statement reads.

In another development, the Board restated its zero tolerance for infractions of the nation’s statutes, stressing that as a regulatory agency, it does not condone any form of unwholesome practice capable of bringing its hard-earned integrity to disrepute.

Consequently, it vowed to follow up the prosecution of the case of the reported violation of the data protection right of a 15-year-old candidate by an agent of a CBT Centre currently before a Lagos Court and assured the parents of the teenage girl and other concerned Nigerians involved that justice would be served accordingly.

Recall that last week, another JAMB CBT manager was arrested for allegedly chatting up a 15-year-old candidate using information accessed during her exam registration.

The incident came to light when the candidate’s mother, who had used her phone number to register her daughter, received inappropriate messages on her device shortly after the registration process.