NECO Registrar Dies After Brief Illness; Not Assassinated, Family Confirms

Posted by Oludare Fase African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, June 1st, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Godswill Obioma, is dead.

Obioma died in his house on London Street, Dutsen Kura area of Minna, Niger, on Monday evening after a brief illness, this is contrary to many news reports that say the late registrar was killed by gunmen.

A source says that the late registrar slumped and died in his bedroom.

He was said to have returned from Abuja for an official assignment at about 9.a.m. and decided to rest before going to the office.

Head of Information and Publicity of NECO, Malam Azeez Sani and the police public relations officer of the Police command in the state could not be reached for details.

But a statement from the family of the deceased issued to Malam Mustapha Abdul, the Director, Human Resource of the council, informed the board, management and staff of NECO of the occurrence.

The statement reads: “Dear Sir, this is to formally inform you that my father, Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO has passed to eternal glory yesterday 31/5/2021 after a brief illness.

“We request that you kindly notify the board, management and the entire staff of the council of this development. We shall keep you duly informed”.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has refuted claims that Prof. Godswill Obioma was assassinated by unknown gunmen in Minna.

The police stated that the family of the deceased had formally announced that he passed on after a brief illness at the National Hospital in Abuja.

The Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, disclosed this in a statement with Ref. No: AZ:5250/NGS/PPRO/VOL.20/117 on Tuesday.

He said, “The attention of Niger State Police Command has been drawn to a publication circulating in some sections of social media and national dailies 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.”

Prof. Godswill Obioma was appointed on the May 14, 2020 via a letter with Reference No: FME/PS/396/C1/1/134 signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

Obioma, a professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, was born on Dec. 12, 1953. He is from Bende Local Government Area of Abia state.