Disputed 2026 examination results, allegations of irregularities and a bitter war of words now move from the public space to the courtroom and cybercrime centre
The controversy surrounding the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results has taken a dramatic turn, with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and one of its staff members, Olanrewaju Fadehan, locked in a widening dispute that has now spilled into the courtroom and the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
What began with allegations of irregularities in the examination process and calls for a review of the recently released results has escalated into a legal battle involving claims of cyberstalking, criminal defamation and an ₦825 million damages suit, while the police have invited Fadehan to appear in Abuja for questioning.
The development has added another layer to an already sensitive controversy involving the credibility of examination results, institutional accountability, whistleblowing and the limits of public criticism.
The police invitation, signed by the Director of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, directed Fadehan to report to the centre in Abuja at 10am on Wednesday for an interview over an alleged case of cyberstalking and criminal defamation.
Fadehan, who confirmed receiving the invitation, also acknowledged that a court order had been served on him restricting further publication of materials concerning WAEC and its Director-General, Dr Amos Dangut.
He said the court papers were served on him on Monday and that the interim injunction directed him to stop further publications on the matter. The police invitation, he added, requires him to appear before the cybercrime centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
The legal development followed an interim order by Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court in Suit No. LD/ADR/6656/2026, restraining Fadehan from publishing, broadcasting, circulating or disseminating what the court described as defamatory, maligning or injurious falsehoods concerning WAEC, its examinations, results and certificates, or the character and integrity of Dangut.
The order covers publications in video, audio, written and other formats across digital platforms, including YouTube and WhatsApp, and is expected to lapse after seven days unless renewed by the court.
WAEC and Dangut are seeking ₦500 million in general damages for alleged libel, ₦300 million in aggravated and exemplary damages and ₦25 million in costs, bringing the total claim to ₦825 million. They are also asking the court to compel Fadehan to retract the alleged defamatory publications, issue a public apology and permanently remove the materials from all platforms.
Fadehan, a Head of Examinations at WAEC’s office covering Anambra State, had attracted public attention after videos attributed to him went viral in which he called for a review of the recently released 2026 WASSCE results and raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the examination process.
He alleged that candidates who sat the computer-based version of the examination were particularly affected and claimed that some of the problems became noticeable around the period the results were released. He also questioned the timing of the result announcement, saying it was initially expected between August 3 and 5, 2026.
His concerns extended to the provision of calculators, students’ identification cards and charges imposed on candidates and other service seekers. Fadehan alleged that some candidates were not provided with appropriate calculators during the examination, arguing that the situation could have contributed to poor performance in Mathematics and other calculation-based subjects.
Following the controversy, he petitioned the WAEC Board, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examining Bodies and the Minister of Education, alleging that rather than adequately addressing his complaints, the council subjected him to disciplinary proceedings and eventually placed him on interdiction.
WAEC has, however, rejected Fadehan’s allegations and accused him of spreading what it described as falsehoods and sensational materials aimed at damaging the reputation of the council and its leadership.
Through its spokesperson, Moyosola Adesina, the council alleged that Fadehan had published a series of videos attacking WAEC and Dangut, including materials titled “Tyranny in WAEC, Nigeria: Dangut must go,” “WAEC: My alleged offence and the overbearing sanctions,” “WAEC’s MND: Petition to ASF, National Assembly and Minister for Education plus appeal,” and “Anomalies in WAEC – Series 1: I won’t wait.”
The council’s lawyers, Union Attorneys, further alleged that Fadehan later published a video titled “Dangut is a thief,” which they described as containing inaccurate information and reckless statements. The lawyers said the publications continued despite a cease-and-desist letter issued on August 24, 2026.
WAEC also introduced an earlier fuel-related controversy into its response, alleging that Fadehan was involved with some staff members in the misappropriation and attempted cover-up of hundreds of litres of diesel from an underground tank at its Awka office.
The council said Fadehan, after serving a four-week suspension, began making what it described as unsubstantiated allegations under the guise of whistleblowing. It maintained that he remained a staff member of the council, that his employment had not been terminated and that he continued to receive his salary.
WAEC further stated that his allegations had been investigated at various levels and found to be false.
However, in a separate account of the fuel controversy, Fadehan disputed the council’s position. In remarks to The PUNCH on Tuesday, he maintained that an internal panel had examined the fuel shortage and concluded that nobody stole the diesel, insisting that the shortage resulted from leakage.
Fadehan also argued that the fuel controversy was separate from the issue for which he was placed on interdiction, maintaining that the latter was connected to allegations of defamation.
He rejected suggestions that his actions were driven by bitterness over the sanctions imposed on him, saying he had appealed against the decisions.
The widening dispute now presents a complex intersection of examination integrity, institutional authority, employee rights, whistleblowing, freedom of expression and the responsibilities attached to making serious allegations in the digital age.
For WAEC, the controversy is about protecting the credibility of an institution whose examinations have significant consequences for millions of students across West Africa. For Fadehan, the matter is about concerns he says deserve attention, particularly where examination procedures and the academic future of candidates are involved.
But beyond the legal battle and competing claims is a larger public concern—the students whose futures are tied to the credibility of their results. For many candidates, the 2026 WASSCE result is not simply a document containing grades; it can determine university admission, scholarships, employment opportunities and the direction of their lives.
That is why allegations concerning examination procedures, calculators, computer-based testing, result processing and possible irregularities have generated such intense public interest.
With the court now temporarily restricting further publications and the police inviting Fadehan to appear for questioning, the dispute has moved decisively beyond social media and public accusations into formal institutional and legal processes.
The ultimate resolution may therefore depend not on the loudest voice in the public arena, but on what emerges from the evidence, investigations and proceedings before the relevant authorities.
For now, WAEC is defending the integrity of its examination system and leadership, while Fadehan continues to stand by the concerns he has raised and the appeals he says he has filed.
As the legal and investigative processes unfold, the central question remains larger than the dispute between an employee and his employer: can public confidence in Nigeria’s examination system be strengthened while legitimate concerns are addressed without compromising institutional reputation or individual rights?
The answer may determine not only the outcome of the present controversy but also how future allegations of examination irregularities and institutional wrongdoing are handled in an increasingly digital Nigeria.
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