Niger Delta

Exam Malpractice: Delta Dismisses Principal, De-recognizes School

Published

16 years ago

December 11, 2009

The Delta State Government has sent very strong signals that it will not condone examination malpractices as the State Executive Council yesterday announced the dismissal of a school principal, a teacher and de-recognition of a secondary school for three years over various offences.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the council meeting at the Government Press Centre in Asaba, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah, said the measures were taken to send “strong and clear signals that the Delta State Government is determined to ensure moral uprightness and appropriate ethical conduct in educational institutions in the State.”

Speaking in company of the Commissioner for Education (Basic and Secondary), Mrs. Juliet Agoba, Djebah said Council arrived at the decision because the sanctions recommended by the Examinations and Ethics Disciplinary Committee in the Ministry were “too minor given the scale of misconduct established against the accused persons and instituion.”

The Committee had recommended that Mr. Pius Unumade (Principal 1, GL 14) of Uwangue Senior Secondary School, Warri be blacklisted from supervision of all certificate examinations and suspended from work for one month without pay. But the State Government converted the penalty to summary dismissal from service.

Unumade, as a supervisor in Creative Demonstration School, Warri, was accused of colluding with candidates who did not register for the October/November 2008 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations to write and submit scripts the day English Language was written.

In a similar vein, a school teacher, Mr. Tunde Alatare (Senior Master, GL 10) of Ezi Senior Secondary School, was alleged to have impersonated one Mr. Mohammed Jimoh Abubakar during the Mathematics Paper 1 of the November/December 2008 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination.

He was found guilty of the allegation and recommended for demotion but the State Executive Council increased the sanction to outright dismissal.

In the case of Uyeson College, Ughelli, the school was de-recognised for three years with effect from the 2008/09 academic session for an established offence of employing the services of a young man to write answers to mathematics questions on the chalkboard in the June/July NECO senior secondary school exams.

Niger Delta

Edo CP Vows Justice For Slain NSCDC Operatives

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice those behind the killing of eight NSCDC operatives in the State.

Agbonika gave the assurance on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene, which also involved the abduction of a Chinese national.

Describing the incident as “a dastardly act that will not go unpunished”, the Commissioner expressed condolences to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC.

He paid tribute to the fallen operatives, describing them as “gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”

“We stand in solidarity with the NSCDC in this grief. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, and Edo people should expect justice”, Agbonika said.

In a separate meeting with Chinese community members at BUA Cement, Okpella, the police chief assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted expatriate alive.

“Our men are on the ground, and operations have been intensified. We are determined to rescue the kidnapped victim and prevent further incidents in the area”, he said.

Agbonika appealed for calm among residents, urging cooperation through timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.

“Security is a collective responsibility. We call on residents to support us with information. Together, we will defeat criminals threatening Edo’s peace”, he added.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that it would not relent until the attackers were arrested and justice delivered.

The Tide’s source reports that the Okpella attack occurred on Friday.

Niger Delta

Police Nab Suspected Illicit Drugs Dealer In Delta

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a suspected female illicit drugs dealer in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

Edafe said the suspect was nabbed alongside her three apprentices on August 29 by the police operatives attached to the Ughelli Area Command.

He said the operatives carried out the raid following credible information on the activities of some individuals that indulged in the sale of illicit drugs within Afisere/Ughelli town.

“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron who operates a chemist store in Afisere Community alongside three of her apprentices.

“The suspect led the operatives to her house at Afisere and a search warrant was executed.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: 355 bottles of CSC codeine, 57 rolls of 50MG tramadol capsules, 335 rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules.

“Others were: 33 rolls of 200mg super royal, seven backwoods, 540 sachets of swinol capsules and 16 cups of Canadian liquid cannabis”, he said.

The police spokesman said investigation further revealed that the suspect was a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and its environs.

Edafe added that investigation in the matter was ongoing.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly extends Bekwarra LG Chairman’s Suspension By 3 Months

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the Bekwarra Council Chairman, Ms. Theresa Ushie, to 90 days.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Elvert Ayambem, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary.

The Tide’s source recalls that Ushie was suspended on June 10 for three months on allegations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.

The suspension followed a petition from the Bekwarra Local Government Legislative Council, signed by eight of its members, who also attempted to impeach her.

Ayambem explained that the extension was to allow the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution more time to investigate the petition written against the chairman by the Bekwarra Legislature.

The House had earlier deliberated on a motion calling for the extension of the office of the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr. Egbung Obama, before agreeing to extend Ushie’s suspension.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Investigative Committee and member, representing Abi State Constituency, Mr. Davies Etta, said the committee needed more time to carry out a thorough investigation.

Ushie was elected as Bekwarra Local Government Council Chairman and sworn-in in November 2024.