From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, yesterday, ordered the detention of four officials of the West Africa Examination Bodies, at an investigative hearing.
The affected officials are the Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, Josiah Dangut, who stood in for the Registrar; Angus Okeleze Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance and Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance.
The panel ordered that the WAEC officials be held in custody following an argument between them and lawmakers whether or not the examination is accountable to the parliament.
The House a fortnight ago, resolved to investigate WAEC’s Internal Generated Revenue ( IGR) from 2018-2024 “and examine the financial books/records
and financial statement of the council from 2018-2023 to ascertain compliance with existing laws governing the administration of public funds. “
However, Dangut, while addressing the lawmakers had stated that WAEC was not an agency of the Federal Government, and as such was not accountable to the House.
Nevertheless, the panel insisted that since WAEC Nigeria established by an act of parliament, it must be accountable to the National Assembly. Besides, it pointed out that the federal legislature appropriates funds for the examination body.
Dangut had earlier in his presentation to the committee posited that WAEC was not an agency of government, hence not accountable as other agencies.
But the lawmakers insisted that WAEC Nigeria was a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, hence must account for all their activities to them.
They pointed out that the National Assembly makes appropriation for WAEC . The lawmakers also pointed out that WAEC’s convention dictates that they must submit to the legislation of any of its member countries.
As the argument got heated, Uchenna Okonkwo, moved a motion for the WAEC officials to be “held in custody” at the National Assembly police post, while lawmakers sort out issues.
“I will like to move a motion that while pending the investigation to look into the activities of WAEC Nigeria, the invited guest before is should be taken into custody and held at the police post while we seek for solutions for these issues they are bringing upon Nigerians.”
The motion was subsequently seconded by Marie Ebikake.
The decision of the lawmakers generated uproar at the hearing room, with the one of the WAEC officials shouting that the panel was unfair to them.
Nevertheless, the officials were taken away by members of the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly where they were detained one of the offices for about 15 minutes.
Thereafter, the panel went into a brief executive session. When they resumed hearing, the lawmaker resolved that the WAEC officials be allowed to go and return at a later with all relevant required from them.
The Committee Chairman, Oforji Oboku, who announced the resolution of the panel, directed the officials to produce the audited accounts of the WAEC from 2018 till date. Oboku also directed the examination body to produce relevant documents relating to a N5 billion loan, it obtained in 2022.
“You are not different from any other agency, saying you are not an agency of government. We are not here to witch hunt you. WAEC is subject to Nigeria’s laws. We have reviewed the position and we have all the powers to oversight you. You cannot come here and say WAEC is not an agency of government. “