A serious admission dispute has erupted between a student of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Basola Jamiu Owodunni and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the status of the graduate who completed his studies after six years but is now being told his admission was never valid.
Basola, who gained admission in 2017 and graduated in 2024 with a CGPA of 4.41 in Civil Engineering, completed all academic and clearance requirements.
However, JAMB has said it has no record of his admission, insisting he was not processed through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), the platform mandated since 2017 to ensure transparent and legitimate student placements.
As a result, Basola’s JAMB portal has been deactivated, denied NYSC mobilisation, and reportedly handed over to the DSS and police.
Despite FUTA confirming his admission through CAPS and multiple appeals made by the Vice Chancellor and other bodies, JAMB maintains that his name was never officially approved and cannot be regularised retroactively.
JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, who reacted to the issue via the Board’s X account, emphasised that the Board only approves candidates recommended through proper channels and cannot act on emotional pleas.
He stated that cases like Basola’s point to possible backdoor admissions, warning the public not to undermine the process with sentiment, regardless of personal circumstances.
Fabian said, “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s role is primarily regulatory. The Board scrutinises and approves candidates recommended for admission by the institutions and ensures that only those who meet the requisite requirements are considered.
“This process that aligns with the three foundational principles of admission as established by the proprietors of tertiary institutions is facilitated through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) – a tripodal procedure that includes: the institutions, the Board and candidates for transparency in admission; the tool since introduced in 2017 has been instrumental to checkmating illegal processes in candidates’ placements across tertiary institutions in the country over time.
“In all these, the Board does not have the authority to propose or recommend candidates for admission; it only approves those recommended by the institutions. A candidate is recognised by JAMB only if he/she has fulfilled all necessary conditions and have been recommended by the institution.
“This is rooted in the legal framework that mandates no institution to admit any candidate without the Board’s approval.
The public needs to understand this regulatory role, particularly in the case of Basola Jamiu Owodunni, who remains an unknown entity to the Board concerning admission. Emotions have no place in the enforcement of laws; the provisions are explicit.
“While there may be no dispute regarding his attendance at the university in question, JAMB asserts that its records do not admit him as he did not follow due process, and the Board lacks the power to insert him on the platform for him to be visible to the NYSC and other stakeholders. The narrative of him being an orphan or from a disadvantaged background should not serve as emotional leverage in this matter,” he added.
However, Basola, an orphan, said he has exhausted all avenues for redress, including visiting the JAMB office, the Public Complaints Commission, and the Brekete Family, with no resolution.
