ICPC, DSS arrest 48 lecturers, others over leakage of JUPEB exam

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested 48 individuals over their alleged involvement in illegal practices of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB).

The lecturers were arrested in a joint operation tagged ‘Operation Combo’ in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Operation Combo, which is a product of several undercover investigations leading to the arrest of suspects including parents of candidates of the exam, was conducted by ICPC and DSS personnel in seven States.

The Investigations were carried out after extensive surveillance of several tutorial centres allegedly known for compromising JUPEB examination.

The suspects were arrested from Wellspring University, Benin, Edo State; Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State and Crown-Hill University, Ilorin, Kwara State. Again the raid of tutorial centres by operatives in McPherson and Precious Cornerstone universities in Ibadan and Ilara-Epe, in Oyo State respectively, led to more arrests of suspects.

Also, three Vice-Chancellors have been invited by the ICPC for their roles in the illegalities.

In a press statement by Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC spokesperson, it was gathered that social media platforms were created by the facilitators for leaking questions and answers to students for a fee.

He disclosed that candidates, who are minors, allegedly paid between N350,000 to N500,000 each to the suspects in the various tutorial schools to engage in the illegalities.