A fresh petition has been lodged against the Principal of Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS), Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mrs Ngozika Nweke, over alleged unauthorised levies, examination charges and other financial demands reportedly imposed on students and their parents.
The petition, signed by a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) member, Mr Sunday Elom, was addressed to the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, following an earlier complaint submitted to the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) on September 21, 2026.
In the latest petition, dated October 5, 2026, Elom urged the ministry to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the alleged collection, documentation and utilisation of various fees and levies reportedly demanded from students at the school.
He said the latest petition became necessary because, although the principal was reportedly invited by the Board following the initial complaint, he had yet to receive formal communication on the outcome of the Board’s consideration of the allegations.
According to him, he subsequently confirmed the authenticity of the earlier petition when contacted by the Board, but was yet to be informed of any administrative findings or measures arising from the complaint.
One of the major allegations contained in the fresh petition is the reported collection of N50,000 from each newly admitted student.
The petitioner urged the appropriate authorities to verify the charge, establish its purpose and determine whether it had the requisite approval and complied with government regulations.
The petitioner also alleged that N24,250 was collected from students for the National Examinations Council (NECO) Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), instead of the stated approved fee of N18,000.
Other alleged charges cited in the petition include N12,800 per student for NECO BECE clearance, N14,800 for State BECE clearance and N9,000 for State BECE hall arrangements.
Elom claimed that the alleged State BECE clearance charge of N14,800 for 23 students amounted to N340,400, while the alleged N9,000 hall-arrangement charge for the same number of students amounted to N207,000.
He further alleged that students were required to pay N1,000 per term as developmental and PTA fees, in addition to recurring charges of N500 for ICT, N500 for sporting activities and N300 for the First Aid Box.
The petitioner called on the ministry to determine whether the charges were duly authorised, properly receipted and appropriately accounted for and utilised.
He also alleged that some parents had been unable to meet the financial demands associated with their children’s education and examinations, with some students reportedly transferring to other schools before sitting for the BECE.
According to Elom, some parents who came to collect their children after the examination period were also said to have indicated that they would not return them to the school for senior secondary education because of the financial burden they allegedly associated with the institution.
He, however, urged the authorities not to treat the allegations as established facts until they had been independently investigated and verified.
The petitioner listed Hon. Nwugo Monica, Mr Elom Sunday and Agen Ogadinma as potential witnesses who could assist investigators in verifying the alleged charges and the circumstances surrounding BECE registration and clearance.
The latest petition also recalled an earlier allegation concerning a student, Ogadimma Agen, who was reportedly unable to sit for the State BECE after allegedly failing to pay N32,000 demanded by the principal, instead of an alleged approved amount of N10,000.
The petitioner said the allegation had been raised in his September 21 complaint to UBEB and called for an independent determination of what transpired.
He consequently urged the Commissioner for Education to examine relevant financial records, receipts, school accounts, examination registration documents, approved fee schedules, PTA records and other supporting documents as part of the investigation.
“Where any irregularities are established, I respectfully urge your office to take appropriate corrective or administrative measures in accordance with applicable regulations and the policies of Ebonyi State Government,” the petitioner stated.
However, reacting to the allegations in a telephone interview, the school principal, Mrs Ngozika Nweke, dismissed them as false and fabricated, insisting that she had not been involved in any irregular or unauthorised levy collection at the school.
The principal also said she had not been formally served with any petition containing the allegations and called for a thorough investigation to establish the facts of the matter.
Mrs Nweke said: “In fact, the petitioner is a liar. What the petitioner said is false; it is a fabrication, and I am not afraid to come to your office to see the petition because I am innocent.”
