– The Imo state government has suspended some secondary school principals in the state

– The principals were accused of indulging in collection of illegal fees from parents

– The suspended principals were directed to handover to their subordinates

Imo state commissioner for education, science and technology, Mrs Gertrude Ego Oduka has announced the suspension of some school principals in the state.

In a press statement sent out to journalists yesterday, September 29, the public relations officer of the commissioner, Ofoleta App-Jonnie said the principals were indulging in collection of illegal fees from parents.

The affected officials are principals of Community Secondary School Orogwe, Government Technical College, Owerri and Emmanuel College, also in Owerri.

Mrs Oduka also directed the suspended principals to handover relevant documents in their possessions to their subordinates.

Part of the statement read: “The commissioner for education, science and technology, Mrs Gertrude Ego Oduka, has announced the immediate suspension of the principal of the Community Secondary School, Orogwe, Mr. Gabriel Nwogu of the Senior Section and the Principal of the Government Technical College, Owerri, Mr Godwin A. Nwaimo of the the Senior Section for extortion of money from parents and guardians, thereby causing pains and hardships to the them.

“She also announced the immediate suspension of Mr. Hyginus Amaechi, the principal, senior section of Emmanuel College, Owerri for the collection of cutlasses, brooms and tissue papers from the students.”

The statement however hinted that more school principals will be fished out and punished by the government.

“More names of identified erring principals will be announced for suspension. Despite my warnings to the principals on several occasions against any form of extortion under any guise, some of them went ahead to cause pains and hardships to the parents and guardians of the students,” the commissioner noted.