JOURNALIST SUES WAEC, DEMANDS N150M
A journalist in Akwa Ibom has dragged the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and a deputy head of council to court demanding N150 million damages for defamation of character. The journalist, Mr. Godwin Benson, a staff of Akwa 1bom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC, now on secondment as secretary of council, Ukanafun Local Government Area is also demanding from WAEC and the deputy head of Ukanafun Local Government Council a retraction letter and an unreserved apology which he says should be published in some national and local dailies, and copies of the letter sent to the commissioner of police, Akwa Ibom State, Area Commander, Ikot Ekpene, Divisional Police Officer, Ukanafun, Head of Council, Ukanafun, the general manager, AKNC, University of Uyo and Forum of Local Government Secretaries. Benson filed the suit at the High Court, Ukanafun. Crime and Justice gathered that Mr. Benson was previously arrested by the police and detained for two days at Ikot Ekpene for allegedly using forged WAEC certificate to gain admissions into University of Uyo . Mr. Benson revealed that his arrest and detention was based on a letter dated October 26, 2006 with reference number L/SED/IR/OFF/VOL/81/027 written by the WAEC to the police in Ikot Ekpene. He said that the letter was mischievous, malicious and totally false in content as it stated that he, Mr. Benson did not sit for the November/December 1989 SSCE as claimed, and that his certificate is forged. Mr. Benson contended that he studied at the Federal School of Arts and Science, Aba , in Abia State where he sat for the November/December SSCE in 1989, adding that the centre number was 11436 while his examination number was 008. He maintained that the examination was organized by WAEC who issued him with a certificate that showed the subjects he registered for with the grades he got, while the school issued him with statement of result. He said he had used the certificate to advance his studies in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura and bagged OND; gained employment in AKNC, got appointment as the council secretary and gained admission in University of Uyo where he graduated from in 2004. The plaintiff pointed out that it was the deputy head of council, Ukanafun, Mr. Nsikak Udoibeh who was the brain behind the scandalous allegation of forgery against him, stressing that the totality of personality, integrity and respect as an educated person is founded on his qualification as shown on the certificate issued to him by WAEC. Source: The Pioneer |
