FG Arraigns Ex-JAMB Registrar Ojerinde, Court to Hear Bail Application Thursday

By Alex Enumah

The federal government on Tuesday formally arraigned a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over allegations of fraud running into billions of naira.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) had slammed an 18 count charge bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of over N900 million.

He was said to have committed the offense during his tenure as Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.

He however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his not guilty plea, his lawyer, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN) subsequently informed the court about the bail application of the defendant, adding that same has been served on the prosecution.

Although prosecution lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, admitted being served with the bail application he however informed the court of his objection to the application.

He similarly opposed another request that the former JAMB and NECO boss be allowed to continue with the administrative bail granted the defendant by the ICPC.

In a short ruling, trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, noted that he was not aware of the conditions of the administrative bail, hence he adjourned to Thursday July 8, for hearing of the bail application.

The judge however ordered that Ojerinde be remanded in the facility of the Correctional Center, pending the hearing and determination of the bail.

Ojerinde is accused of diversion of public funds and making false statement, among others from 2003 when he was the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) till 2021.

In count one, he was alleged to have, while serving as the Registrar of NECO, used his position to gratify himself by “corruptly converting the sum of N27m, property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to personal use, to acquire a property known as Tejumola House, Ikeja, Lagos in the name of Doyin Ogbohi Industries Ltd, a company in which you have a private interest.”

In count two and three, Ojerinde was accused of diverting N3, 811,876,230.10, around February 16, 2009 into a Zenith Bank accounts number: 1002833087 and 1011265699 “in the name of JAMB-J. O. Olabisi.”

He was, in counts four and five, alleged to have used his position as JAMB Registrar to confer corrupt advantage on one Jimoh Olabisi Olatunde, whose accounts in Zenith Bank and Stanbic IBTC Plc with number: 1013583506 and 0022594599, in the name of JAMB-J. O. Olatunde, he allegedly diverted N205,712,575.23 between 2019 and 2018.

In count six, Ojerinde was said to have, between January and February 2014 conferred corrupt advantage on his associate by allegedly authorising the payment of N486m to Messrs Pristine Global Integrated Company, through a Zenith Bank account number: 1013701117 for the supply of “examination materials – calculators, pencil and eraser,” which sum was above his authorised approval threshold.

Earlier plan for the arraignment was put on hold due to his request for time to enable him and ICPC conclude the ongoing process for plea bargain.