N35m JAMB scam: EFCC charges snake-swallowing woman, five others to court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, arraigned an official of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Philomina Chieshe, who claimed that a mysterious snake swallowed some funds kept in her custody by her employers.

She was arraigned before Justice Peter Afen of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with five other suspect.

The EFCC slammed an eight-count charge on Chieshe sequel to her alleged refusal to furnish the management of JAMB with the true information on the financial status (sales) of JAMB e-cards supplied to the institution’s Benue State zonal office, in Makurdi, between 2014 and 2016.

The commission added that the action of Philomena was contrary to section 139 (a) of the Penal Code Law.

Other suspects arraigned alongside Chieshe included: Samuel Umoru, Yakubu Jekada, Daniel Agbo, Priscilla Ogunsola, and Aliyu Yakubu.

Chieshe, had, in February 2018, told auditors that the mystery snake had eaten N35 million kept in the accounts office of JAMB in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The said N35 million was the shortfall of unremitted e-JAMB cards, which Ms. Chieshe and her co-travellers allegedly misappropriated but claimed the money was swallowed by a mysterious snake.

The suspects tried to veil their shame in court on Friday as they desperately struggled to hide their faces from photojournalists covering the court.