UPDATE: Court orders detention of ex-JAMB registrar, Ojerinde, over alleged N5.2bn fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the detention of a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, at the correctional centre.

Ojerinde was arraigned on an 18-count charge over his alleged involvement in an N5.2 billion fraud.

The trial Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on Tuesday, after his arraignment, ordered that Ojerinde be kept in a correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for July 8, 2021.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), prosecuting the matter on behalf of the Federal Government, said Ojerinde committed the alleged offences, contained in the charge, from 2003 when he served as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) till this year.

Ojerinde however, pleaded not guilty to all the 18-counts charge numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2021, when it was read to him in the court and his counsel, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN), subsequently informed the court officer a bail application he filed and served on the prosecution.

Olorunnishola also prayed the court for time to react to the counter-affidavit filed by the counsel to the prosecution, Ebenezer Shogunle, which the defence lawyer said was served on him late.

Shogunle, who did not object to Olorunnishola’s request for time, opposed the defence counsel’s application that his client is allowed to remain on the administrative bail, earlier granted him by the ICPC, pending the hearing of his bail application slated for July 8, 2021.

Ojerinde is accused of diversion, making false statements, among others from 2003 when he was NECO Registrar 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 N27 million 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 counts 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 a 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 allegedly diverted N205,712,575.23 between 2019 and 2018.

In count six, Ojerinde was said to have, between January and February 2014 conferred a corrupt advantage on his associate by allegedly authorising the payment of N486 million 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.

He was, in count eight, accused of diverting N15 million with which he allegedly acquired a broadcast license for Ifelodun Communications Ltd (Gravity FM, Igboho), a company in which he is said to have a private interest.

In counts 9, 10, 11 and 12, Ojerinde was alleged to have diverted public funds to acquire landed property from a property firm, EFAB Estate, Abuja, though a proxy – P.I. Oye and Associates, “in order to conceal your beneficial interest in the said property.”

In counts 17 and 18, Ojerinde was accused of making false statements in respect of his relationship with his former lawyer, Peters Oyewole, one Adeniyi Banji and a firm, Standout Industries Ltd.

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

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UPDATE: Court orders detention of ex-JAMB registrar, Ojerinde, over alleged N5.2bn fraud