Crimes

ICPC arraigns ex-JAMB Registrar Ojerinde, children for fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has again arraigned the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, over allegations bordering on official corruption, abuse of office, and forgery.

Ojerinde was arraigned on Thursday, June 15, alongside his children – Mary Funmilola Ojerinde, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde, and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde – and six companies linked to him.

The companies are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited, and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited.

The ICPC, in a charge no: FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, informed the court of the multiple layers of fraudulent identities and conspiracies designed by the defendants to conceal crimes.

In one count out of a 17-count charge, the commission through its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, told the court how the former JAMB boss 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, after the property had been forfeited to Nigerian Government.

Ojerinde 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) and JAMB, “knowing very well that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers forbids public officers from engaging in private business other than farming or participating in shareholding of joint stock companies.”

The court was also informed about how Ojerinde in order to avoid various anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies of government, 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 the companies by 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 as well as Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged corruption and other ancillary offences.

The ICPC said the actions 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 defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, granted the ex-JAMB boss bail on terms earlier granted to him by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is standing trial, while the four children were admitted bail in the sum of N20 million each and a surety in like sums who must have landed properties not below the value of the bail sum and within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge in handing down the bail conditions also ordered the other defendants to surrender their international passports to the court and must not travel outside the country without recourse to the court, adding that the Nigeria Immigration Service must be notified.

Justice Ekwo, therefore, adjourned the matter till November 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2023, for hearing.

The Star