News
WASSCE: 8,350 Private Candidates Sit For WAEC’s Maiden CBT Nationwide

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC said on Saturday that its maiden Computer Based Test (CBT) for WASSCE first series, for private candidates, would eliminate the major source of examination malpractice.
The council’s Head of National Office (HNO) Dr Amos Josiah Dangut stated this while monitoring the examination in some centres in Lagos.
Recall that council had stated its readiness to conduct the maiden edition of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE ) first series for private candidates, using the CBT platform.
The examination commenced on Jan. 31 and would be concluded on Feb. 17.
Dangut said that prior to the introduction of the CBT, the contents of the examination were usually let out before the test through some mischief makers who might have a role to play during the examination.
“So, I think with the introduction of this CBT, the issue of candidates having fore knowledge before the commencement of the examination will largely have been eliminated. It can no longer be business as usual.
“The major avenue, source of leakage, where we used to have supervisors carry these question papers from one point to the other will no longer obtain.
READ ALSO: WAEC Adopts CBT For SSCE
“When I say leakage, I mean the tearing of the bag containing the examination questions and sneaking out one. So, with this new concept, this will never happen.
“Again, you can see with the sitting arrangements that the candidates are also separated with cubicles that will not enable them to engage in any form of examination malpractice, coupled with the fact that they have to be dealing with different subjects at the point in time,” he said.
The council boss explained that given the CBT mode of examination, one does not need a special software to check examination malpractice, because the questions vary from one candidate to the other.
Dangut said that so far, the process had been encouraging, as there had not been any reported case of infraction or technical hitch recorded across the designated centres for the examination nationwide.
According to him, the council prepared well, did a lot of sensitisation, and gave the candidates the opportunity to try hands-on before the commencement of the examination.
He said that power supply would not affect the examination as the council had made two alternative arrangements outside public supply.
The HNO said that power was critical in choosing all the centres engaged to conduct the test.
READ ALSO: CBT WASSCE Will Cause Mass Failure In The North, Arewa Youths Express Fear
He said that the council was not on the general internet and was using the intranet for the conduct of the examination.
“Today, the general Mathematics is taking place and as you can see, everything is moving on smoothly.
“The systems are top notch, with zero hitches recorded since the commencement of the examination on Jan. 31.
“This examination is being conducted simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“We have about 8,350 candidates sitting for this examination as of today, because we have opportunity for people who want to register and start their own examination the next day.
“We call such candidates ‘walk in candidates’ and because of that too, the entry keeps going up everyday.
“For example, last week, when we were having the briefing exercise, we had about 8,230 candidates, but like I said before, as we speak, we have over 8,350 in all, because of the ‘walk in’ candidates.
READ ALSO: CBT WASSCE Will Cause Mass Failure In The North, Arewa Youths Express Fear
“Candidates who would want to sit for a paper on Monday are doing their registration today. They will have to register at least 24 hours before the commencement of the paper they intend to be examined on,” he said.
The HNO added that the WAEC Test and Training Centre (WTTC) at Ogba was one of the 10 centres being used for the examination in Lagos.
According to him, the council is optimistic that it will have a successful outing of the maiden edition of the WASSCE CBT for private candidates, given the state of its readiness.
He said that the council had interacted with the stakeholders and they had all expressed delight at the development.
“You know, perception has a lot to do with performance. The stakeholders had anticipated very well and the result is what we are getting so far.
“We have said right from onset that this is a hybrid examination. The objective questions are beamed on the screen and are answered on the screen.
READ ALSO:WAEC Set To Introduce CBT For WASSCE
“But for essay, just like this general Mathematics paper 2, you will find out that have answer booklet provided for them where they are expected to do their calculations but the questions too are beamed on the screen. That is what makes it hybrid mode,” he stated.
Dr Dangut said that results of the examination were expected to be out 45 days after the last paper.
He expressed optimism that the second series of the WASSCE for private candidates that would begin in November would also be taken through the CBT mode.
“We are encouraged with what we have now for this maiden edition.
“We sat on the drawing board, got our act right and that is why we are able to deploy the computer mode for this examination.
“So, after this one, we will also go back to the drawing board and together strategise for the second series.”
Some of the candidates who participated in the examination said it gave them the opportunity to have a feel of what obtains with other computer based tests in the age of technology.
News
Atiku Slams Tinubu Over U-turn On Pardon For Convicts

The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday berated President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s reversal of the presidential pardon list, describing the move as “an act of shame, not wisdom.”
In a statement signed by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the administration of lacking foresight and moral consistency, following Tinubu’s decision to revoke the earlier pardon granted to Sanda and several other convicts.
“Once again, Nigerians have witnessed a government that doesn’t lead — it reacts,” Atiku said.
“President Bola Tinubu has ‘cancelled’ his own pardon for drug traffickers, kidnappers, and other hardened criminals — but only after Nigerians shouted loud enough to wake him from his moral slumber.
READ ALSO:UPDATED: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
“Let’s be clear: this U-turn is not an act of wisdom, it’s an act of shame.”
He questioned the process that led to the initial inclusion of many convicts on the list, demanding transparency from the presidency.
“Who compiled the list of beneficiaries? What criteria justified freeing kidnappers and drug offenders? Where was the Attorney-General when this absurdity was cooked up? And why does this government only ‘discover its conscience’ after Nigerians express outrage?” Atiku asked.
Describing the pardon saga as “a national embarrassment,” he added that the presidency’s frequent reversals on policy decisions showed Nigeria was being “governed without foresight, without empathy, and without shame.”
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
“If the President truly means well, let him publish the list of all those who were meant to benefit from this scandal. Until then, this cancellation is nothing but damage control — too little, too late,” he said.
The remarks came amid widespread reactions trailing Tinubu’s revocation of the earlier pardon granted to Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
While the Labour Party commended the president for bowing to public pressure, the New Nigerian Peoples Party faulted the administration’s inconsistency.
NNPP spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, said, “It is disgraceful that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will announce pardons and then the presidency will say they want to vet and go over the things again.
“Given public opinion, it’s not a surprise that they have reversed it, but it just shows that the presidency needs to get its act together.”
READ ALSO:Brigadier-General, Other Officers Detained Over Alleged Coup Plot To Overthrow President Tinubu
However, Labour Party interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, commended Tinubu’s decision to listen to public sentiment, saying, “What Tinubu has demonstrated is that he listened to the people of Nigeria. We commend him for that.”
He urged the president to extend such responsiveness to “issues that affect Nigerians,” including the nation’s debt profile and policies that “promote hunger and hardship.”
Tinubu’s reversal, announced through an official gazette by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commuted Sanda’s death sentence to 12 years imprisonment, factoring in the six years and eight months already served.
The U-turn followed a wave of public outrage that trailed the initial pardon.
News
Edo Deputy Gov Raises Concern Over Documentation On Radisson Hotel

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Wednesday expressed worry over the clarity of documentation surrounding Radisson Hotel, Benin City,
project’s acquisition and the roles of previous vendors and consultants.
In a statement, his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo said the deputy governor spoke when he led a government delegation on an inspection tour of the five-storey luxury hotel.
Idahosa, who expressed dismay over certain lapses observed during the visit, however, appealed for calm among stakeholders and residents, urging patience as the state awaits the outcome of the legislative probe.
The governor said that Governor Monday Okpebholo had forwarded relevant documents to the Edo State House of Assembly for investigation into the acquisition process.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo, Idahosa Bag UNIBEN Distinguished Service, Leadership Awards
“Once the House concludes its findings, we will act accordingly to ensure transparency and accountability,” he assured.
Frustrated by what he described as “vague answers” from contractors about the project’s completion timeline, Idahosa pressed for clarity on when the hotel would finally be
opened to the public.
“Edo people deserve to know when this investment will start yielding value,” he stated.
He, nonetheless, tasked workers at the construction site to ensure strict adherence to safety and environmental standards.
He said the warning became necessary in order to avoid casualties at the site of the flagship hospitality project expected to redefine the state’s tourism and entertainment landscape.
READ ALSO:10 Things Candidates Should Know About Customs Recruitment CBT Exams
He also challenged the contractors to ensure the best standard and quality materials are used for the project.
He emphasized that the state government’s intention was not to witch-hunt the contractors but to ensure the project meets both Radisson’s global benchmarks and the Edo State Government’s quality standards.
He reaffirmed that government agencies would maintain close oversight to ensure full compliance with building, safety, and environmental regulations.
“We will not compromise on standards. Radisson Benin must meet the expectations of the brand and the people of Edo State.
“Our goal is simple, Edo State deserves the best,” Idahosa declared. “We want a facility that will attract visitors from around the world and make our state the hospitality hub of Nigeria,” he stated.
READ ALSO:2027 Presidency: Idahosa Reiterates Okpebholo’s Promises Of Delivering Edo To Tinubu
During the visit, the deputy governor conducted an on-the-spot SWOT analysis of the project, examining facilities such as the water reservoir, power plant, and sample rooms.
Also speaking during the inspection, Mr. Igabali Darlington Imoesili, Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, flagged inconsistencies in the facility’s documentation, including conflicting figures on the number of rooms and deviations from approved plans.
“We have records indicating 170 rooms, the site engineer says 169, and the project manager says 178. These discrepancies raise serious concerns,” Imoesili noted.
He added that his office would demand all approved documents for verification.
The hotel’s resident architect, Olumide Taiwo, who conducted the team around the site, assured the delegation that the firm was working closely with the Radisson brand to maintain its global quality and safety standards.
News
Reviewed List Of Presidential Pardon Recipients

President Bola Tinubu has approved a revised list of convicts granted clemency under the Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, 2025.
This is as the Presidency announced a review of the pardon list following widespread criticism.
The list, dated October 21, 2025 and personally signed by the President, contains 86 names of inmates across various correctional facilities nationwide, whose sentences were reduced or commuted under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The document, sighted by PUNCH Online, titled “Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence, 2025,” shows that several inmates convicted for offences ranging from manslaughter, culpable homicide, drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy, and unlawful mining were granted reduced sentences.
They include:
Homicide and Manslaughter Cases
•Yusuf Owolabi (36) – Convicted of manslaughter in 2015 and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri. Now to serve 15 years based on “educational improvement, remorsefulness and acquisition of vocational skills.”
•Ifeanyi Eze (33) – Life sentence for manslaughter (2021), now to serve 15 years.
•Maryam Sanda (37) – Convicted for culpable homicide (2020) and sentenced to death by hanging. Her sentence commuted to 12 years based on “compassionate grounds, the best interest of her children, good conduct and remorsefulness.”
•Markus Yusuf (41) – Culpable homicide (2023), 13-year sentence reduced to 8 years due to ill health.
•Alhaji Abubakar Tanko (61) – Culpable homicide (2018), 30-year term reduced to 20 years.
READ ALSO:Transfer Deadline: 10 Players Who Saw Their Careers Collapse After Switching Teams
Drug and Narcotics Offences
•Patrick Mensah (40) – Drugs (2015), 17 years reduced to 13 years.
•Obi Edwin Chukwu (43), Tunde Balogun (32), Lima Pereira Erick Diego (27), Uchegbu Emeka Michael (37), Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen (46), and Napolo (61) were all convicted for drug trafficking between 2015–2017.
“Sentences of 15 years reduced to 12 years each based on “remorsefulness and vocational skill acquisition.”
READ ALSO:
•Dias Santos Marela Christiana (44) – Convicted of importing cocaine in 2017; 15-year term reduced to 12 years for “remorsefulness and deportation.”
•Isaac Justina (40), Aishat Kehinde (38), Helen Solomon (68), Okoye Tochukwu (43), and Ugwuze Paul (38) – Convicted of cannabis-related offences, all granted reduced terms of between 3 and 7 years.
Financial and Fraud-related Offences
•Mustapha Ahmed (46) – Criminal breach of trust; 7-year sentence cut to 5 years.
•Innocent Brown Idiong (60) – Possession of Indian hemp; 10-year term reduced to 6 years.
•Inibong Imayen Nuikidem (46) – Obtaining money by false pretence; 7 years cut to 5 years.
•Buka Adamu (40) – Advance fee fraud; 20 years reduced to 9 years.
•Ada Audu (72) – Fraud; 7-year mandatory imprisonment cut to 4 years.
•Chief Jonathan Alatoru (66), Umannah Ekatte (70), Utom Thompson Udoaka (60) – Granted reduced terms for age, remorsefulness and good conduct.
Firearms and Related Offences
•Abubakar Mamman (38) – Possession of AK-47 rifle (2020); 10-year sentence cut to 7 years.
•Muhammed Bello Musa (35) – Possession of firearms; 10 years reduced to 7 years.
•Nnamdi Anene (67) – Illegal dealing in firearms; life sentence commuted to 20 years.
•Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed (71) – Illegal property possession; 7 years reduced to 5 years.
Maritime and Conspiracy Offences
READ ALSO:pUPDATED: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
•Bright Agbedeyi (46), Babangida Saliu (35), Jude Saka Ebaragha (44), Frank Insort Abaka (46), Sluna Alolo (42), David Akinseye (39), Ahmed Toyin (46), Shobajo Saheed (57), Adamole Philip (52), and Mathew Masi (39) were all convicted for conspiracy to hijack fishing vessels in 2020. Their 12-year sentences were reduced to eight years with N1m fines waived “based on remorsefulness and impecuniosity.”
Unlawful Mining Offenders
A total of at least 45 inmates across the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Oyo State, were convicted in January 2024 for unlawful mining.
Each was sentenced to three years, now reduced to two years, “based on remorsefulness, good conduct and a letter of undertaking dated April 22, 2025,” reportedly facilitated by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis for their rehabilitation and empowerment after release.
The list includes:
Yusuf Alhassan, Abdullahi Isah, Zayanu Bello, Habeeb Suleman, Jubria Sahabi, Shefiu Umar, Seidu Abubakar, Haruna Abubakar, Rabiu Seidu, Macha Kuru, Zahradeen Aminu, Nazipi Musa, Abdullahi Musa, Habibu Safiu, Husseni Sani, Musa Lawali, Suleiman Lawale, Yusuf Iliyasu, Sabiyu Aliyu, Halliru Sani, Shittu Aliyu, Sanusi Aminu, Isaaka Adamu, Mamman Ibrahim, Shaibu Abdullahi, Sanusi Adamu, Sadi Musa, and Haruna Isah, among others.
Presidential Approval and Legal Backing
The document cites Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to “grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence in Nigeria a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”
It was formally titled: “S.I. No. 79 of 2025: Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence).”
(PUNCH)
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