News

WAEC Arrests Over 20 Exam Officials For Malpractice

Published

2 years ago

June 9, 2023

No fewer than 20 school officials, allegedly aiding and abetting examination malpractice, have been arrested by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in its ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

The Council said that the arrests were made in various parts of the country.

The Head, National Office (HNO) of council, Mr Patrick Areghan, disclosed this on the sidelines of a monitoring exercise he carried out in some schools on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, the WAEC has since handed over all the culprits to the police for prosecution.

Areghan vowed that the council would do everything possible to ensure that their prosecution was followed to logical conclusion.

“The issue of examination malpractice can no longer be treated with kid gloves.

“It is no longer business as usual, as it has completely eroded morals and values in our society. It is taking a dangerous dimension, of which, if not tackled will bring our country to its knees.

“Now, since the commencement of this examination, we have deployed our technology, designed to catch examination cheats and we are happy at the results we have gotten so far.

“For instance, in Ibadan, Oyo, where we have our zonal office, which takes care of Osun, Kwara and Oyo itself, we made three arrests in a school and for the purpose of confidentiality, I will not mention the name.

“There, a supervisor at a centre, principal and invigilator were all arrested.They were arrested for allegedly snapping and posting the questions to some platforms, thereby, aiding and abetting examination malpractices.’’

He said: “Then, in Maiduguri, a supervisor and principal of a school, were both arrested and handed over to the police too.

“In Umuahia, a teacher and a supervisor were arrested in a particular school and they have been handed over to the police.

“In Abeokuta, a school proprietor was the first to be caught at the beginning of this examination on May 8, snapping and posting question papers,” he said.

Areghan described the act as a monumental disgrace.

The WAEC official, said that the proprietor and a supervisor had since been arrested and also handed over to the police.

He further disclosed that the same situation was also recorded at

Osogbo, where a principal, invigilator and chief supervisor were arrested for the same offence.

According to him, in Kaduna too, a supervisor and an examination official in a school who were caught in the act, were arrested and handed over to the police.

He explained that the school, which was ceded to Kaduna was supposed to be Kano, but was ceded because it was closer to Kaduna.

Areghan said that the arrests would continue until the end of the examination.

He urged candidates not allow their future to be compromised by persons who did not wish them well, by promising to assist them pass their examination through illegal means, stressing that WAEC’s examinations could never be accessed illegally.

According to him, all of the culprits caught in the act may have been paid by the unsuspecting candidates and their parents, promising to assist them pass the examination.

“I want to counter this statement that some people are fond of making, which is that our examination questions always leak.

“That does not exist. Our examination is always safe and secured until they get to the candidates in the hall.”

He asserted that WAEC examination questions don’t ever leak and cautioned the media to stop using the word “leak”.

“What actually happens is that, once the examination is about to start, we give the question papers to the supervisors, one hour before commencement, so that they can travel from the collection point, to the various schools, where they will administer the examination.

“What happens?

“Immediately they get to the exam hall, they will open the pack in the name of distributing to candidates and they will snap and post to various designated platforms- WhatsApp, Instagram and others.

“Such persons are members of a syndicate group who collect money,’’ he said.

According to him, once the examination is already in progress, anyone that takes pictures of the papers and posts will be detected.

Areghan noted that the council had a method of detecting who snapped, who posted, who it was posted to and which candidate’s question booklet was posted.

According to him, that is when the council swings to action by rounding all of them up and subsequently handing them over to the police.

“You have been following me around for this monitoring

“You saw me telling these children that they will hardly have time to access any materials snapped and posted on any platforms because they are already in the hall writing the examination.

“From what we have seen so far today at the schools we visited, I will say that the examination has been going on smoothly. There has not been any challenge beyond our control.

“Of course you will come across persons who will want to prove smart by cutting corners and trying to get things done unethically, but we have been able to beat them to it.

“There are though, some that we do not bother ourselves with, as we will deal with such administratively.’’

He noted that only hard work was the way out to a stable and progressive country, adding that schools should continue to stick to academic excellence and nothing less, in order to sustain quality education.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that schools visited for the monitoring on Thursday included ST and T in Ikeja, Ikeja Senior High School as well as State Senior High School among others.

News

Nigerian Government Explains Cause Of National Grid Collapse

Published

5 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Government has explained the cause of the national grid collapse around 11:20 am on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

According to the Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, Wednesday’s grid collapse was caused by the tripping of a generation company, resulting in a significant load drop, which cascaded to other GenCos and led to a system disturbance.

NISO, responsible for the country’s national grid, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, noting that restoration of the national grid commenced immediately.

It stated that an investigation has begun to determine both the immediate and root causes of the grid collapse.

“The disturbance was caused by the tripping of a GenCo, resulting in a significant load drop, which cascaded to other GenCos, leading to a system disturbance. NISO immediately commenced restoration of the grid at 11:45 hrs, beginning with supply to Abuja from the Shiroro power plant, and substantial restoration has been achieved across the country.

“A full investigation into the immediate and remote causes is underway.

“The outcome(s) of the investigation report would determine the remedial and proactive actions to be taken to forestall future occurrences. We crave your indulgence to bear with us as restoration is still ongoing,” NISO said.

DAILY POST reports that national grid restoration has begun, with power supply restored in parts of Abuja.

News

EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss, Mele Kyari

Published

6 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

Mele Kyari, a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, on Wednesday, visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, office.

Kyari arrived EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja at about 2:15pm.

He was invited to answer questions on financial and technical matters during his time in office.

Recall that the EFCC had placed Kyari on its watch list over an ongoing probe into the $7.2 billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance.

This is just as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Kyari due to allegations of fraud.

News

Owo Church Attack: Court Turns Down Bail Request For Alleged Al-Shabab Terrorists

Published

8 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday refused the bail request made by five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists who allegedly attacked a Catholic Church in Owo town, Ondo State, leading to the death of over 40 worshippers.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who dismissed their bail application, held that the terrorism charges preferred against them were capital in nature and that they were accused of being members of a strong terrorist organisation who may intimidate witnesses, influence proceedings and jeopardise the trial of the defendants before the court.

Delivering a ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite upheld the arguments of the Department of State Services (DSS) that the evidence against the alleged terrorists was strong and could not be glossed over.

Besides, the judge said the argument of the DSS that they would jump bail and abscond if released was not disputed and was deemed to be true.

The judge also upheld the submission of the security agency that the five accused persons did not provide credible sureties to stand for them pending trial, and added that the DSS’s argument that admitting them to bail would amount to judicial risk was not challenged by their lawyers.

In all, Justice Nwite held that the defendants failed to give cogent and verifiable reasons why they should be granted bail pending their trial and subsequently dismissed the bail request.

Earlier, before going into the merit of the bail application, the judge had declared the motion on notice incompetent on the ground that the names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law.

The judge also faulted the motion paper on another ground: that a joint affidavit of two paragraphs was filed in support of the request for bail of the five defendants, contrary to the position of the law that each accused person must file a separate affidavit to back up a bail request.

While granting an accelerated trial, Justice Nwite fixed 19 October for the commencement of the trial.

It will be recalled that the bail application of the defendants – Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar – dated 11 August 2025, was argued by their counsel, Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, on 19 August 2025.

While arguing the application, the lawyer had submitted that the accused persons had assembled reliable and responsible sureties to stand for them.

The request was opposed by the DSS lawyer, Dr Callistus Eze, on the grounds that the accused persons may escape because of the gravity of the charges against them, urging the court to refuse the bail application and allow the defendants to remain in DSS custody.

Some counts in the charge read: “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5™ June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including: Onuchukwu Happiness, Ogungbade Vivan and Nnakwe Paschaline Ugochinyerem and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(a)(i) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”