Police: NECO Registrar Died After Brief Illness

By Laleye Dipo

The Police and the National Examination Council NECO Headquarters in Minna Niger state have attributed the death of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Examination Council Professor Godswill Obioma to brief illness.

In different statements the examination body and the police said the family corroborated their positions that Obioma died after a brief illness.

NECO’s statement on the issue was signed by its Head of Information and Public Relations Mr Azeez Sani while the Niger State Command Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun signed that of the police.

“The attention of Niger State Police Command has been drawn to a publication circulating in some section of social media and national dailies (Not THISDAY) that NECO Registrar Prof. Godswill Obioma was murdered by unknown gunmen in Minna. This story is totally false, untrue and a pure piece of fake news

“It is important to state categorically that on 31st May, 2021 the family of the Registrar/CEO National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof Godswill Obioma, formally announced that he passed to eternal glory after a brief illness at National Hospital Abuja.

“Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the fake news and news reporters are advised to always verify their report before publication to avoid creating unnecessary panic and fear in public domain”, the police statement reads.

In its statement titled: “NECO Registrar Dies at the Age of 67”, the organisation said the Director, Human Resource Management, Mr. Mustapha K. Abdul in a circular released in Minna on Tuesday, quoted family sources as saying that Prof. Obioma died on 31st May, 2021 after a brief illness.

“This is contrary to insinuations in the social media that the late Registrar was assassinated in his residence in Minna.

The Circular enjoined staff of the Council to remain calm and prayed for the repose of the soul of Prof. Obioma.

The Niger state Government has in the meantime condoled with the family and staff of NECO over the demise of Professor Obioma.

In the condolence message, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello described the death of Professor Obioma as a huge loss to the family and the nation.

Bello said in the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mary Noel Berje that Prof. Obioma’s death came at a time when the country needed his services most for the advancement of the education sector.

The Governor noted that since Obioma assumed office a year ago, he has made his impact felt in the running of the organization through prompt conduct of examination and the release of results.

He prayed for the repose of his soul.

Prof. Obioma was born on 12th December, 1953 and hails from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
He was appointed Registrar of NECO on 14th May, 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, late Prof. Obioma was a former
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council
(NERDC).

Until his appointment as Registrar of NECO, Prof. Obioma was the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Ebonyi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The late Registrar is survived by his wife and children.