On Wednesday, four officials from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) were detained by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies due to their failure to adequately address questions during an investigative hearing in Abuja.
The detained officials were Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office; Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; and Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance.
The detention followed a heated argument between the lawmakers and the WAEC officials regarding the body’s accountability to the parliament. Dangut argued that WAEC was not a government agency and thus not accountable to the National Assembly. However, the lawmakers countered that WAEC Nigeria is established by an Act of the National Assembly and is required to account for its activities. They also noted that appropriations are made for WAEC by the National Assembly.
Rep. Uchenna Okonkwo moved a motion for the WAEC officials to be held in custody while the investigation continued. This motion was supported by Rep. Marie Ebikake. Despite the officials’ protests, they were detained briefly by the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly.
Following a closed-door session, the committee resolved to release the officials but instructed them to return with the requested documents. Rep. Oforji Oboku, the Committee Chairman, demanded the audited statements of WAEC’s accounts from 2018 to 2024, as well as documents related to a ₦5 billion loan accessed by WAEC in 2022 for purchasing custom-made calculators.
Oboku emphasized that WAEC is subject to the National Assembly’s oversight and that failure to produce the required documents could lead to sanctions. The committee plans to invite WAEC again at a later date to ensure compliance and accountability.
