Ex-JAMB official jailed for N10m fraud

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, has convicted and sentenced a former staff member of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Olayiwola Oguntade, to prison for fraud.

Oguntade was arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 13, 2020, on a three-count amended charge bordering on forgery, advance fee fraud and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N10,000,000 million.

Count one of his read: “That you, Olayiwola Oguntade sometimes in 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N10,000,000 by false pretence through Kola Al-Amin from Polybadan Microfinance Bank Ltd and thereby committed an offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1 (i) (b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

Management: Why JAMB suspended Redeemer’s University law admissions

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting his over four years of trial, during which prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran and Lanre Suleiman, called 10 witnesses and tendered several incriminating documents against him that were admitted in evidence.

The lawyers urged the court to convict and sentence the former JAMB official accordingly.

The presiding judge, Justice Bayo Taiwo, while delivering judgement on January 28, 2025, declared that “the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and the court is convinced that the defendant is guilty of the offences filed against him by the EFCC.”

Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Oguntade to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The Star