School proprietor docked over N26m WAEC exam fraud

Proprietor of Obfo International Academy, Nsukka, Enugu State, Mr. Luke Oshi, was yesterday arraigned before a State High court sitting at Nsukka for allegedly conniving with some staff of his school to dupe students, who were to write their West African Examination Council, WAEC, May/June 2012 examination.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is prosecuting the case, stated in the papers filed before the court that the accused allegedly failed to register the students for the said examination after collecting money from 580 candidates as registration fees.

He was earlier in April arraigned before an Enugu Federal High Court on a 10-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 342 of the revised Criminal Code of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353(g) of the same Act.

However, yesterday’s arraignment at Nsukka took a dramatic turn of event as over 300 students, who fell victim of the alleged scam, besieged the court premises for a possible refund as they got wind of an underhand arrangement to refund part of their money which did not, however, materialise.

Consequently, the enraged students, who were accompanied by some of their parents, returned home disappointed.

When the case came up for hearing, plea was not taken as counsel to the accused, Mr. Elias Ugwu, quickly sought for adjournment to enable him make proper consultations, saying “ this is an EFCC case.”

The presiding judge, Justice F. I. N. Ngwu, adjourned the matter to October 14.