Local: Buhari has approved the termination of the appointment of Prof Charles Uwakwe (NECO registrar) and 4 other management staff

It could be recalled that Prof Uwakwe and four of the dismissed management staff were suspended on 10 May 2018, while an investigation panel was set up to address claims of unsatisfactory actions against them.

However, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof Charles Uwakwe together with Mr. Bamidele Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Acounts), Dr. Shina Adetona, Head of Procurement Division, Mr. Tayo Odukoya, Deputy Director and Barr. Babatunde Aina, Head of Legal/Board matters, has been dismissed from service for various offences.

Mr. Azeez Sani, Head Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said the former Registrar was directed to hand over all Government properties in his custody to the Acting Registrar of the Council.

Arc. Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education on 11^th May 2020 signed the termination of the appointment letter which was conveyed by Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

Uwakwe was accused of violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) and pursuant to PSR 030402 and part 1 schedule 4 (i) of NECO Establishment Act.

Part of the letter reads: “after due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct leveled against you and some Management Staff of the Council, Mr. President in the exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty.”

Arc Sonny Echono as well signed a letter with reference NO: FME/S/1419/C.3/T/98, on 11^th May, 2020, disclosing that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dismissal from service of Four Management Staff for various offences.

Also Read: President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sacking of the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Gur Mohammed 

The letter stated that “after due consideration of the Financial Report of the Review Committee, Mr. President has approved the recommendations as follows.

Mr. Bamidele Amos Olure, acting director (Finance and Accounts), has been found guilty of financial impropriety and not competent as head of the Department of Finance and Accounts on the date of his removal from office.

The letter also stated that Dr. Shina Adetona had been discharged from service with effect from the date on which he had been removed from office for actions equal to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records under PSR 030402 (b&t).

He is also to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a & b) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) (2007) for flagrant violation of PPA 2007 as Head of Procurement and misleading Management on Procurement.

Also, Mr Tayo Odukoya was dismissed from service for acts of serious misconduct which violates PSR 030301 and PSR 030402 (q) (t) (w). He is to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act (2007) for flagrant violation of the Act.

The letter directed NECO's management to begin the process of recovering ill-gotten benefits / gains from Mr. Odukoya, who acted as Director of the Company (M / S I-web Solutions) while serving the Government.

Barrister Babatunde Aina was dismissed from service for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which violates section 2609 (a) of the Financial Regulations (FR) and PPA (2007) part X section 55 (2) – (4) and section 56 which are tantamount to serious misconduct pursuant to PSR 030301 (g), PSR 030402 (a) and PSR 030402 (m).

The letter implied that Barr had been dismissed. Aina is without exception to the probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the selling of the NECO Guest House.