JAMB clerk: Nobody questioned me over missing N36m… I never said snake swallowed it

Philomina Chieshe, a sales clerk in the office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Benue state, has denied saying the N36 million kept in her custody was swallowed by a snake.

Chieshe had reportedly told Ishaq Oloyode, JAMB registrar, and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.

She allegedly confessed that a strange snake “spiritually” stole the money from the vault in the office.

She was subsequently suspended, while JAMB vowed to arrest and prosecute any official indicted in the case.

But Chieshe told CNN that she had not been questioned about the missing funds.

“I wonder why they are personalising the case? I did not say any money was swallowed by a snake,” she said.

“Nobody questioned me about that case. I am just a clerk and I serve under directors who are accounting officers. I wonder why they are personalising the case?”

But Fabian Benjamin, spokesman of the board, told CNN that Chieshe confessed to auditors that a snake had swallowed the missing money.

“She confessed that she had the money, kept it in a vault in the office but a snake came and swallowed the money,” CNN quoted Benjamin as saying.

“The staff and others in her category that are found culpable have been suspended and will be handed over to appropriate authorities.”