Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday on charges of money laundering amounting to N5 billion. Ojerinde was arraigned with his three sons and daughter-in-law before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ojerinde’s companies, including Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learnings Centre Ltd and Standout Institutes Ltd, are also facing money laundering charges.
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Ojerinde had previously been arraigned by the ICPC on July 6, 2021, on an 18-count charge of alleged misappropriation of funds amounting to N5.2 billion before Justice Obiora Egwuatu. The ICPC alleged that Ojerinde committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).
Ojerinde was said to have diverted a cumulative sum of N2,769,083,044.04 through an account he allegedly instructed Zenith Bank Plc to open in the name of JAMB/J.O. Olabisi, corruptly conferring advantage on a public officer, Jimoh Olabisi Olatunde.
However, Ojerinde was re-arrested by the ICPC on January 26, 2023, and subsequently pleaded not guilty to the allegations, being granted bail in the sum of N200 million.
In a fresh charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/119/23, Ojerinde and his three sons and daughter-in-law were included. At resumed proceedings, the re-arraignment of Ojerinde and the other defendants was stalled due to the ICPC’s failure to serve court processes and the absence of some defendants in court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo held that arraignment was only possible when all defendants had been duly served by the ICPC, and adjourned the matter for plea to April 19, 2023, warning that there would be consequences if the defendants failed to appear in court.
