WAEC Officials Detained by Nigerian Legislators Over Accountability Issues

Four officials from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) were detained on Wednesday by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies due to their inability to satisfactorily address questions about the council’s accountability during an investigative hearing.

The detention followed a motion by Rep. Uchenna Okonkwo, who raised concerns about the officials’ responses to the committee’s inquiries. The session revealed a significant disagreement over WAEC’s accountability to the parliament, with committee members expressing frustration over the officials’ perceived evasiveness.

The detained WAEC officials include Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office for WAEC Nigeria, who was representing the Registrar; Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; and Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance.

A heated exchange ensued during the hearing as lawmakers questioned the officials on WAEC’s accountability to the National Assembly. Dangut argued that WAEC, not being a government agency, was not required to report to the parliament. However, the lawmakers countered that WAEC Nigeria, established by an Act of the National Assembly, must be accountable to the legislature. They emphasized that the National Assembly funds WAEC and pointed out that WAEC’s charter necessitates adherence to the legislative frameworks of its member countries.

In response to the ongoing disagreement, Okonkwo proposed a motion to detain the officials pending further investigation into WAEC’s activities. “I would like to move a motion that while pending the investigation to look into the activities of WAEC Nigeria, the guest before us should be taken into custody,” Okonkwo stated. Rep. Marie Ebikake seconded the motion. The officials were briefly held by the National Assembly’s Sergeant at Arms before being released after a closed-door session.

Committee Chairman Rep. Oforji Oboku instructed the WAEC officials to return with audited financial statements from 2018 to 2024 and documentation related to a ₦5 billion loan obtained in 2022 for purchasing specialized equipment. “You are not different from any other agency by saying you are not an agency of government,” Oboku asserted. “We have reviewed the position and we have all the powers to oversight you. WAEC is subject to Nigeria’s laws.”

The committee resolved to reconvene with WAEC at a later date and warned that failure to produce the required documents would lead to further sanctions.