Son of the late Registrar of the National Examination Council, (NECO), Prince Godswill Obioma the 2nd, has explained how his father died.
Earlier reports on Tuesday had claimed the late registrar, Professor Godswill Obioma, was reportedly strangled to death by gunmen suspected to be assassins.
The report said his wife, Elizabeth Obioma, confirmed the incident on Tuesday morning.
However, the son in a note sent to the management of the council indicated that Obioma died after a brief illness.
Obioma the 2nd in a letter to NECO said: “Dear Sir, this is to formally inform you that my father Prof. Godswill Obioma the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO 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.”
It was further learnt that the registrar died on Monday evening after his trip from Abuja to Minna. He was said to have complained of being tired at about 3 pm but was found dead at around 5 pm in his house.
Recall that the late registrar appointed in 2020, was accused of mismanagement and corruption by both the staff and board of the agency. He was alleged to have also attempted to release the sum of N1.8 billion to some contractors who the board had said should not be paid.
The examination body’s board had recommended his removal to the education minister, Adamu Adamu.
The recommendation was said to have been forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval and could have been removed this week before news of his death broke.