UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION: With N7,000, SecretsReporters Staff Who Disguised As Student, Obtained All 2024 NECO Questions And Answers A Day Before Each Paper In Malpractice Syndicate Operated By Access Bank Customer, Ikeh Victor Chibuzor

Stanley Ugagbe

In a major investigation that has further exposed the rotten state of the Nigerian educational system, this online media has uncovered an examination malpractice syndicate that facilitates malpractices in major examinations such as the National Examination Council, West African Examinations Council, National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board, Interim Joint Matriculation Board. 

The syndicate is operated on WhatsApp by one Ikeh Victor Chibuzor who uses his Access Bank account number, 1480458699 and PalmPay account number 7047805180 to receive payments from those who patronize his services.  

Our reporter learned of Victor’s syndicate shortly after the end of the 2024 WAEC examination. Out of curiosity, the reporter joined the WhatsApp general group named “WAEC AND NECO EXAM RUNZ ” that boasts of 476 members. Subsequently, the Reporter privately contacted some of the members in group to ascertain the genuinity of the syndicate. Fortunately, one of the members (name withheld) told the Reporter that Victor is her friend, stating that the process is very genuine. She shared how Victor helped her with all the answers in the just concluded WAEC examination. The lady further revealed that Victor lives in Ado, Nasarawa State. 

The Reporter later contacted Victor on his phone number 07047805180, expressing interest in subscribing for malpractice for the 2024 NECO exam (Social Science Subjects). He told the Reporter that it costs seven thousand Naira (N7,000) to subscribe for the nine subjects. 

As stated in the group’s description, Victor confirmed that the answers drop a night before the paper. According to him, once interested candidates make payment to either his Access Bank or PalmPay accounts, such a candidate will get all the answers to the papers stated. 

With this information in mind, our Reporter, disguised as a student, made a payment of N7,000 to Victor’s Access Bank account, 1480458699 to subscribe for Social Science subjects. The payment was made on the 24th of June 2024.   

Meanwhile, before payment, the Reporter asked Victor if he has a physical office, he responded that he works at “WASSCE, BCE ”. He, however, refused to delineate on the workplace or divulge further details. 

True to his words, Victor started sending answers to our Reporter for each subject a night before the examination. However, some of the answers came early in the morning of the examination. He also shares snippets of the questions and answers in the general group to lure others to subscribe to his malpractice services.

(Screenshot showing answers to the 2024 Civic Education NECO questions)

(Screenshot showing answers to the 2024 English Language NECO questions)

(Screenshot showing answers to the 2024 Financial Accounting NECO questions)

The story was the same on the day of Biology as the answers were sent on the same day of the exam. The answers were sent by 1:31pm about 30 minutes before the commencement of the exam. 

(Screenshot of Physics paper shared on the group by Victor by 9:16pm, a night before the paper, to lure others to subscribe). 

In the course of the investigation, Victor told our Reporter that he buys the questions from exam officers. According to him, one paper can cost him as high as N70,000.00. 

Meanwhile, barely four papers into the examination, Victor started demanding money for each paper despite paying the initial N7,000 price. For instance, Victor demanded the sum of N2,000 for mathematics. 

When the Reporter complained of extortion, Victor referred the Reporter to one Joshua Benjamin whom he said is his boss. The said Benjamin, with phone numbers 07063497939, 9117603838, started demanding money from the Reporter before sending answers for the remaining subjects.  However, after much persuasion, he agreed to send answers to the Reporter on the condition that the Reporter will pay after the exam. It was Benjamin who sent the Reporter answers to English and Economics. Benjamin operates Opay account 7084599491 with the name Joshua Benjamin Zaria. 

(Screenshot showing the question papers of Animal Husbandry and Marketing which are billed for tomorrow)