President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the termination of the appointment of Professor. Charles Uwakwe as the Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council, (NECO).
Four other management staff of the Council were also dismissed for various offences.
In a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Architect Sonny Echono on behalf of the Education Minister, 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.
The former Registrar was directed to hand over all government property in his possession to the Acting Registrar of the Council.
Also in a Press Statement signed by Head Information and Public Relations Division, Azeez Sani, four other officers: 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 were relieved of their appointment.
Mr. Bamidele Amos Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), dismissal from service took effect from the date of his suspension from office having been found guilty of financial impropriety and not qualified to Head the Finance and Accounts Department.
Dr. Shina Adetona was dismissed with effect from the date he was suspended from office for acts tantamount to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records pursuant to 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 for acts of serious misconduct which violated 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 the management of NECO to commence the process of recovering ill-gotten benefits/gains from Mr. Odukoya who acted as Director of a company (M/S I-web Solutions) while in service of government.
Barrister Babatunde Aina was sacked for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which violated section 2609 (a) of the Financial Regulations (FR) and PPA (2007) part X section 55 (2) – (4) and section 56 which were tantamount to serious misconduct pursuant to PSR 030301 (g), PSR 030402 (a) and PSR 030402 (m).
The letter indicated that the dismissal of Barrister Aina from service was without prejudice to the investigation being carried out by EFCC on the sale of the NECO Guest House.
It would be recalled that Professor Uwakwe and two of the dismissed management staff were on 10th May, 2018 placed on suspension, while an investigative panel was constituted to probe the allegations of unsatisfactory conduct leveled against them.
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