ICPC uncovers fresh evidence, re-arrests ex-JAMB registrar, Ojerinde

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), yesterday, re-arrested a former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde in Abuja.

Ojerinde’s re-arrest followed a warrant issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja. ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, who disclosed this in Abuja, said Ojerinde is expected to face a team of investigators over new evidence in relation to his ongoing trial over alleged diversion of funds while he was a public officer.

He said ICPC operatives uncovered two accounts opened in the names of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International Schools Ltd into which funds were diverted, using fictitious names of students.

The Commission had, on December 12, 2022, invited the former registrar for questioning over the new evidence. But he had written through his solicitor, requesting a 14-day grace to enable him honour the invitation.

Ojerinde, however, refused to honour the invitation, as undertaken by his counsel, after expiration of the window on December 27, 2022. In the course of its ongoing investigation, the Commission unearthed evidence suggesting Ojerinde is the sole signatory to various bank accounts operated in the name of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International School Ltd.

Ojerinde allegedly operated those accounts using false identities and forged documents in the names of Joshua Olakulehin Olaniran and Akanbi Lamidi, respectively. He also reportedly used another false identity, Adeniyi Banji, to operate a separate account in the name of Standout Institutes Ltd.

The ICPC said it also recovered chequebooks of the companies’ accounts from Ojerinde, who has been taken into custody at the headquarters of the Commission.

“The Commission may likely prosecute the former registrar before a court of competent jurisdiction for offences bordering on forgery of documents, stolen identity, money laundering and concealment of gratification, if the new evidence is confirmed,” Ogugua said.

Ojerinde is currently being prosecuted by the Commission at the Federal High Court Abuja and Federal High Court Minna on an 18-count charge bordering on abuse of office and fraud to the tune of about N10 billion while serving as heads of two government agencies, National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.

He had allegedly conferred corrupt advantages upon himself at different times while heading JAMB and NECO, thereby violating Sections 19, 24, 25 (1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Section 1 (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.