Pascal Oparada
While the death of the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO), Godswill Obioma, came as a surprise to many, controversy has, however, trailed his demise.
The Peoples Gazette, an online newspaper, quoted Obioma’s wife saying he was assassinated. According to the report, the assassins came in the night and strangled her husband to death.
“The assassins came in and killed him and left without taking anything,” Elizabeth Obioma told Peoples Gazette by telephone on Tuesday morning.
Another newspaper, Leadership, quoted sources from NECO headquarters who said Obioma died of a heart attack.
Quoting an alleged letter from one of the sons of the late Registrar, NECO said Obioma died of cardiac arrest after a brief illness.
The letter to the Director of Human Resource Management, NECO, Mustapha K. Abdul, by one of the late Registrar’s sons, Prince Godswill Obioma the 2nd, informing the council of his father’s death, said he died after a brief illness.
The letter read: “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.”
Many believe that the late registrar, whom many believe is outspoken, was killed as he has been having a running battle with the board of the examination body since he was appointed in 2020.
They believe he was assassinated because of his inquiry into the activities of NECO under his predecessor.
