Extortion Allegations Threaten GCE Exams

Allegations of extortions by invigilators are threatening to mar the conduct of the on-going GCE examinations across the various centres especially in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The Tide investigation revealed that in most of the centres, candidates were being asked to pay five thousand naira for special seats while amount ranging from seven hundred to one thousand naira were being demanded from candidates before their answer scripts could be signed.

Investigation also revealed that a number of this fraud are allegedly being perpetrated by private schools where the examination centers are located.

At the  Victory Comprehensive Secondary School, Elelenwo, some candidates accused the invigilators of asking them to pay money before their scripts can be signed.

According to  a candidate who spoke under condition  of anonymity, some of his colleagues scripts were not signed as a result of not being able to pay the money.

“You have to sort them before they sign your answer scripts. In fact, this is very bad,” he said.

Another candidate also explained the same situation , noting that she had already reported the  incident to her parents.

At the premises of Victory Comprehensive Colleague, a man who simply gave his name as John Peters denied the allegation that the school was involved in the fraudulent activities and attributed it to jealousy.

At the office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Port Harcourt, the State Comptroller was not available for comments but an officer who craved anonymity said that the office would take appropriate sanction against schools involved in the act.