ICPC arraigns Ojerinde, children, firms
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has once more arraigned former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, for allegations bordering on official corruption, abuse of office and forgery.
He was docked alongside his children – Mary Funmilola Ojerinde; Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde; Adebayo Ojerinde; Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde and six companies linked to him – Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited; Cheng Marbles Limited; Sapati International Schools Limited; Trillium Learning Centre Limited; Standout Institutes Limited and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited.
ICPC in a Charge No: FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 7, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, informed the judge of the multiple layers of alleged fraudulent identities and conspiracies designed by the defendants to conceal crimes.
In one count out of the 17 charges, the anti-graft organisation, through its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, told the court of how the JAMB ex-boss allegedly conspired with three of his children (Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde and Adebayo Ojerinde) to sell off property worth $150,000 situated at House No. 4 Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase 2, Accra, Ghana, even after the property had been forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The don was also accused of incorporating the aforementioned companies and taking up simultaneous appointments as chairman and director, while being a public officer on full time appointment as Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Minna and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Bwari, knowing very well that the code of conduct for public officers forbids them from engaging in private business other than farming or participating in shareholding of joint stock companies.
The court was also informed of how the 1st defendant (Ojerinde), in order to avoid various anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies of government, notably Know Your Customer (KYC) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) policies, took measures to conceal his ownership and active participation in the management of some of these companies by reportedly using forged documents, stolen identities and synthetic names.
As a result of some of these acts, the former JAMB Registrar is also standing trial at the Niger State High Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja for alleged corruption and other ancillary offences.
These actions, according to the prosecution, are contrary to, and punishable under Sections 17, 19, 22 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006, as well as contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2007.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges when read to them.
Bail was, was subsequently, granted to the JAMB ex-boss on terms earlier granted to him by the Abuja court, where he is standing trial, while the four children were admitted bail in the sum of N20,000,000 each and a surety in like sum, who must have landed properties not below the value of the bail money and within the jurisdiction of the court.
The trial judge, in handing down the bail conditions, also ordered the other defendants to surrender their international passports and must not travel outside the country without recourse to the court and notification to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The matter was, thereafter, adjourned to the 1November 13, 14,15, 16, 2023 for hearing.
