The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of Nigeria has brought charges against Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), along with his children and six affiliated companies. The charges include allegations of official corruption, abuse of office, and forgery.
Professor Ojerinde was docked alongside his children, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde, Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, and six companies linked to him, namely: Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited.
In a court hearing before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court 7 in Abuja, the ICPC revealed a web of fraudulent activities and conspiracies orchestrated by the defendants to conceal their crimes.
One of the seventeen charges filed by the Commission highlights how the former JAMB boss collaborated with three of his children to sell a property worth One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000:00) in Accra, Ghana. The property had already been forfeited to the Republic of Nigeria, yet they proceeded with the sale.
Professor Ojerinde is also accused of establishing the aforementioned companies and assuming multiple positions as Chairman and Director, despite being a full-time public officer as the Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO) in Minna and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari. These actions violate the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, which strictly prohibits engagement in private businesses except farming or shareholding in joint stock companies.
The Court was further informed that the 1st defendant (Ojerinde) took deliberate measures to evade government anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies, such as the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) policies. He employed forged documents, stolen identities, and synthetic names to conceal his ownership and active involvement in managing some of the companies.
Consequently, the former JAMB Registrar is also facing trial at the Niger State High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged corruption and related offenses.
These actions contravene sections 17, 19, 22, and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. They also violate Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006, as well as Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2007.
Ojerinde and Others Plead Not Guilty
All the accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges presented against them. Justice Ekwo granted bail to the Ex-JAMB boss based on the conditions previously set by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is already standing trial. The four children were each granted bail in the amount of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) and required to provide a surety with landed properties of equal or greater value within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The trial judge, while issuing the bail conditions, ordered the other defendants to surrender their international passports to the Court. They were also prohibited from traveling outside the country without the Court’s permission, and the Nigeria Immigration Service was to be notified accordingly. Justice Ekwo adjourned the hearing to November 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th, 2023.