There was a tense moment at the National Assembly on Wednesday, October 29, after officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out on the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies during an investigative hearing.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Oboku Oforji, had summoned JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede to appear in person to present documents related to the board’s 2023–2024 budget performance, remittances to the Federation Account, and bank statements.
However, the Registrar sent a director, Mr. Muftar Bello, to represent him.
Drama unfolded shortly after the session began when Bello insisted that members of the press leave the room, claiming that the documents contained “sensitive information.”
The committee rejected the request, insisting that the proceedings were public and that only Parliament had the constitutional power to determine the format of its sittings.
However, the Committee refused, insisting that its proceedings were public and constitutionally empowered to determine how its sittings were conducted.
In a dramatic turn, the JAMB representative became visibly agitated, ordered his team to leave, and walked out of the session, leaving lawmakers stunned.
Angered by the action, the Committee directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest the JAMB officials, but they had already left the premises.
The Committee has now given JAMB until Tuesday next week for the Registrar to appear in person with his management team and present all requested documents.
Failure to do so, the Committee warned, could lead to the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
