JAMB's Former Registrar Probe: ICPC Investigates Family Members

The family members of  former Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB),Professor Dibu Ojerinde, are now being investigated by the  Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged missappropriation of N900million.

Ojerinde according to ICPC,was arrested in Abuja on March.15, 2021 over allegations that he misappropriated about N900 million while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).

The JAMB former boss' lawyers revealed this in some documents they filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The legal team In an affidavit filed along with an application, claimed that the anti-graft agency extended its investigation to three of Ojerinde’s children.

According to them, “The respondent has now further invited the applicant’s children, Mr. Adedayo Ojerinde, Hon. Olumide Ojerinde and Dr. Oluwaseun Ojerinde.”

The lawyers explained that the ICPC had written the children “to come to their office for questioning based on realm of speculations, and this also is an attempt to restrain the liberty of the children in a bid to frustrate the applicant and his family.”

Ojerinde is still in prison custody, following the inability of his legal team to meet new bail conditions which one of his legal team,  Lilian Nwazue, of the firm of K. S. Olorunishola & Co, claimed  “are very inhibitive which is indicative that the respondent does not want to allow the applicant bail.”

Justice Inyang Ekwo,presiding over the bail application,made it clear that the court can only release him based on compliance with the new bail conditions, beyond enforcing his fundamental human rights 

“Though the court has the power to allow the administrative bail to continue, I do not think I can exercise power for him to be released on administrative bail,” he said.

Ojerinde according to  ICPC, in its statement, is being detained by the Commission for questioning over allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion and making false statements to public officials.

The anti-graft agency claimed that “The former JAMB boss is also being questioned by the Commission for allegedly awarding fraudulent contracts to shell companies which cannot be traced.

“He was alleged to have awarded contracts for the supply of pencil and eraser at the cost of N450 million each, to Double 07 Concept Limited and Pristine Global Concept Limited, respectively, between 2013 and 2014 while heading JAMB.

“There is no evidence to show that the items which are examination materials were supplied as the contractors cannot be found.

 

“Similar contracts were allegedly awarded to Solid Figures Limited, Holywalk Limited and other companies for various sums without any trace of executions.”