Nightly roundup: Osun state funds put on hold by EFCC, 2026 WASSCE exam scores out, plus more major news updates

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Education, governance and security dominated Wednesday’s headlines as the West African Examinations Council released the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results while withholding 167,486 candidates’ results over alleged examination malpractice.

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This is as Osun State Government said it will sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti- graft agency froze government accounts.

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A total of 176 victims abducted in different parts of Kwara State have regained their freedom.

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The recap in full:

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WAEC releases 2026 WASSCE results

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The West African Examinations Council has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates.

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Out of 1,950,726 candidates that sat for the examination, 1,200,514 candidates (61.54 per cent) obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/breaking-waec-releases-2026-wassce-results/

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WAEC withholds 167,486 WASSCE results over malpractice

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The West African Examinations Council has withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59 per cent of those who sat the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School candidates, over alleged examination malpractice.

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The figure, however, represents a decline from the 9.7 per cent recorded in 2025.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/waec-withholds-167486-wassce-results-over-malpractice/n

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Osun heads to court over EFCC account freeze

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Osun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada on Wednesday, said he has the mandate of the governor to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti- graft agency froze government accounts.

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Jimi-Bada said a ‘Post no debit’ letter from the EFCC was forwarded to the management of the First Bank where Osun government accounts were domiciled on Wednesday.

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The commissioner, who expressed readiness to proceed to court, said the move by the anti-graft agency may hamper government’s business, noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke was not using state funds to run its campaign for reelection.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/osun-heads-to-court-as-efcc-freezes-govt-accounts/n

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176 abducted victims regain freedom in Kwara

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The Kwara State Government on Wednesday announced that victims abducted during the February 3, 2026, attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area had regained their freedom.

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The development was announced on Wednesday in a post on the official Facebook page of the Kwara State Government, months after 176 victims were abducted.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/breaking-176-victims-abducted-in-kwara-regain-freedom/n

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Army places bounty on wanted ISWAP leaders

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The Nigerian Army has declared the Governor of Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa – Wali and his Deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted following their identification from technical devices obtained during a recent offensive against the terrorist group in the Lake Chad region.

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According to the military, their identities were obtained after a forensic exploitation of the recovered devices, including high-value intelligence materials and a camcorder.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/army-places-bounty-on-wanted-iswap-leaders/

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FG promises payment of outstanding N35,000 wage award by Aug. 15

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The Federal Government has assured federal civil servants that payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears will commence before the middle of August, saying the necessary release for the exercise is at the final stage, while outstanding promotion arrears are also being processed.

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The assurance came amid renewed concerns by organised labour over delays in the implementation of workers’ welfare agreements, including unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears and salary-related allowances.

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the assurance during a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Side, led by its National President, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, in Abuja.

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Read more: https://punchng.com/fg-promises-payment-of-outstanding-n35000-wage-award-by-august-15/n

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