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A graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Jamiu Bashola, is currently in detention after spending seven gruelling years studying Civil Engineering — only to be told his entire academic journey was built on a ‘fake’ admission.
According to multiple reports trending on social media, Jamiu, an orphan, wrote and passed his 2017 UTME and Post-UTME and received admission letters from both FUTA and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). He was admitted in 2018 and later graduated with an impressive CGPA of 4.41.
However, all his years of sweat, sacrifices and sleepless nights have now been thrown into uncertainty. Jamiu’s nightmare began when he approached JAMB to validate his records so he could process his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation and apply for jobs.
Instead of getting the confirmation he expected, he was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and JAMB officials, who declared his admission status “fake.”
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many calling for urgent intervention and justice for the young man, who now faces an uncertain future despite doing everything by the book.
A friend of Jamiu’s, who shared the story on X (formerly Twitter), described how Jamiu’s life has been shattered:
“JAMB, DSS & NPF detained my friend because he asked them to validate his JAMB result and admission. He didn’t cheat the system. He worked for everything. For 7 years, Jamiu struggled through school like many of us, particularly as an orphan. Now, his hopes are dashed. After seven long years of sleepless nights and burning midnight candles, @JAMBHQ says his admission is fake. Now he can’t go for his youth service. He can’t apply for jobs. He’s stuck. We know Jamiu. We saw him every day for 7 years. This is unfair. He deserves justice.”
While JAMB has yet to release an official statement explaining how an admission issued with supporting documents could later be deemed invalid, concerned Nigerians have called on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Education to investigate the case.
Many have also urged FUTA management to clarify its role in the controversy, especially as the young man completed his studies under the university’s supervision and was awarded a degree.
For now, Jamiu Bashola remains detained — a graduate whose certificate may mean nothing unless the authorities resolve this troubling situation.
