By J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq
I just read the very insensitive statement by JAMB excusing and blaming its refusal to release the results of some candidates it deemed as underage on a non existent case in the Court of Appeal.(recall that JAMB had earlier lied to the nation in March, 2025 that it had filed an appeal when it had not).
I blame Nigerians for these kinds of shenanigans that Prof Ishaq Oloyede-led JAMB is arrogantly displaying. The destinies and futures of thousands of young Nigerians are being towed with by one man. Rather than confront him, Nigerians are concerned about inanities like the arrest of the verydarkman allegedly by GTB on what we can not even understand.
Nobody, I mean, no one is talking of the disobedience of a decision of court by JAMB that affects thousands of young persons and many families. The various human rights organisations are mute and nonchalant. Parents, including lawyers (except very few), are grumbling and calling me, but doing nothing to put Prof. Ishaq Oloyede under pressure to do the right thing. The TV houses, particularly, are talking about inconsequential matters every day and ignoring the cries of the thousands of candidates crying out for help. What a country!
Now, coming to the excuse of JAMB, permit me to ask my learned colleagues: should a party refuse to obey the judgment of court on the ground that he has filed a Notice of Appeal….is that the law?
Granted that the Prof Ishaq Oloyede-led JAMB finally filed a notice of appeal and an application to stay execution some days ago (this is coming after they refused to released the results), would that excuse JAMB from obeying the judgment of court? Can a declaratory judgment be stayed…what is to be stayed exactly? A Notice of Appeal is not a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal. However, assuming but not conceding that a Notice of Appeal is a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, we all know that an appeal does not act to stay the judgment of court….or am I wrong?
Seriously, this inflammatory excuse by JAMB that I have just read has made me change my perception of Prof Ishaq Oloyede. He is not a good man, as i had thought. The crocodile tears he shed some days ago were only to curry sympathy, whip up sentiments in his favour, and retain & secure his job. Prof Ishaq Oloyede has proven himself to be a sadist by this singular statement from JAMB. Prof Ishaq Oloyede must go. He is not a fit and proper person to handle that office, which is the gateway to adulthood in this country. He stands to take responsibility for the death by suicide of that innocent girl in Lagos. Prof Ishaq Oloyede should and must be held responsible for any possible death by suicide or depression or trauma by any affected child that may arise from his sadistic insensitivity on this matter.
If I may ask, should the lives of precocious children be put on hold only because JAMB has filed an appeal? What if the appeal does not succeed? Will he give back the lost years and life opportunities of the affected children? Even if the appeal succeeds, will JAMB lose anything if these children are admitted?
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I have a classmate who was admitted as a 15-year-old into 100 level in 1985. Today, she is a very high-ranking lawyer and a public officer diligently serving the nation. And there are thousands like her. What are we talking about here?
OLOYEDE MUST GO.
J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq.
Let’s do it
