N31m WAEC fee stolen in Ogun, govt panel alleges

By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA— A panel of enquiry set up by the  Ogun State Government to probe the alleged mismanagement of  N200  million paid by the government for West African Examinations Council, WAEC, fees, has submitted its report indicting some government officials of stealing N31 million.
The panel, while presenting its report, yesterday, said that  some  officials of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, reportedly added  a total of 3,571 external candidates to the legitimate list of students that sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, in the last three years in Ogun State.
The  administrative panel of enquiry was set  up by the Head of Service to look into alleged case of illicit and fraudulent diversion of government funds with a view to unravelling the fraud and  recommend appropriate sanctions to prevent  future occurrences.
Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Opebiyi,  who presented the report to the Head of Service, yesterday, said  apart from the money allegedly diverted, various sums of money were discovered to have been held illegally by certain officers of the Ministry.
Opebiyi, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, explained that the panel had recommended appropriate sanctions against culpable officers and suggestions on ways of preventing future occurrences.
Responding, the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle congratulated members for the successful completion of the assignment, expressing optimism that their recommendations would be faultless for adoption.