Legislators Demand Arrest Of WAEC Officials For Lack Of Accountability

Legislators Demand Arrest Of WAEC Officials For Lack Of Accountability

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has called for the detention of four West African Examination Council (WAEC) officials due to concerns about accountability. This demand emerged from a heated investigative hearing held on Wednesday in Abuja.

The officials in question—Amos Josiah Dangut, head of WAEC Nigeria; Angus Okeleze, senior deputy registrar; Victor Odu, acting director of finance; and Segun Jerumeh, deputy director of finance—were summoned to address the committee’s questions but failed to satisfy the lawmakers with their responses.

During the session, Mr. Dangut claimed that WAEC, not being a government agency, was not accountable to the parliament. However, the committee contended that WAEC Nigeria is a statutory body created by an Act of the National Assembly and is thus obligated to report to the parliament.

The committee also highlighted that WAEC is funded through appropriations made by the National Assembly and must adhere to the legislative frameworks of its member countries.

In response to the perceived lack of cooperation, Committee member Uchenna Okonkwo moved a motion to have the WAEC officials detained at a police post while the investigation continues. The motion, seconded by Marie Ebikake, led to the officials being held by the National Assembly’s sergeant at arms for approximately 15 minutes.

Following a brief closed-door session, the committee decided to release the officials on the condition that they return with the requested documents. These include the audited statements of accounts from 2018 to 2024 and details regarding a ₦5 billion loan obtained by WAEC in 2022 for purchasing custom-made calculators, among other expenditures.

Committee Chairman Oforji Oboku emphasized that WAEC is subject to Nigerian laws and cannot operate outside the supervision of the National Assembly. He warned that failure to provide the required documents would result in sanctions.

The committee plans to reconvene with WAEC officials at a later date to review the provided documents and ensure compliance with legislative oversight.