Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Nigeria Police yesterday paraded 12 suspects arrested over their involvement in examination malpractice in the just concluded West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in some states across the country.
The arrest of the suspects was consequent upon the renewed partnership between the exam body and the police aimed at ensuring and promoting the integrity of examination processes in the country.
Parading the suspects in Abuja, Force PRO and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said investigation by police operatives revealed that the suspects used their privileged positions as invigilators, supervisors and school functionaries during the 2020 WASSCE to conspire, perpetrate and encourage varying degrees of examination malpractices, including online transmission of examination questions and answers on various social media platforms.
The suspects are Daye West, 52; Shalom Essien, 39; Anyanwu Precious (female) 27; Hanson Beloved, 38; Ali Musa, 46 and Umar Mohammed, 50.
Others include Isa Abdullahi Arikya, 39 years; Hamisu Haussaini Abdullahi, 33; Maharazu Sabo, 41; Yusuf .M. Mailafiya, 55; Sule Bukata Garba 40 and Wudana K. Solomon, 30 were arrested in Kano, Rivers, Nasarawa and Bauchi States respectively.
During an interview with newsmen, the suspects admitted their involvement in aiding exam malpractice.
Mba said the IG assured the examination body of his continuous support to discourage examination malpractices and bring perpetrators to book.
He also enjoined parents, guardians, students and all other stakeholders in the examination processes to cooperate with the police and the exam body towards bringing an end to examination malpractice in the country.
In her remarks during the parade of the suspects, Deputy Registrar and Head of School Examination (WAEC), Mrs. Hassan Omoleme, said there was no leakage of the papers prior to the exam.
She said the suspects started posting the questions and answers online from 9a.m. after the exam started.
“We appreciate the collaboration of the police so far. They assisted us in apprehending those who were posting our question papers online”, she said.
