JAMB SNAKE SCAM: FORMER BOSS CONFIRMS FRAUD

Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the former JAMB boss has dismissed the story of a snake swallowing money . He stated that the incident never happened and was simply a fabricated story.

Addressing the incident during an interview on ARISE News, Oloyede said the most popular notorious scandals, predated his tenure as JAMB registrar. His only role was to handle the matter after assuming office.

The controversy erupted in 2018 after a sales clerk at JAMB’s Makurdi office in Benue State claimed that a mysterious snake had swallowed ₦36 million realised from the sale of scratch cards. The explanation, reportedly offered during an internal audit into missing funds, sparked nationwide outrage, disbelief and satire, with the phrase “snake swallowed the money” becoming synonymous with implausible excuses for missing public funds.

According to him, the allegation was so unbelievable that he insisted the official’s account be recorded to preserve evidence.

“The snake matter did not occur when I was there. It was just that I had the fortune or misfortune that I had to address it. The matter had occurred before I assumed office,” he said.

Oloyede explained that the recording later proved useful when the incident became a national controversy.

“I insisted that we must record it because it was unbelievable. When the matter became a national issue, the tape was there. Even myself, I would have disbelieved myself if we did not have the recording of the narration of what happened,” he stated.