Former JAMB Registrar Ojerinde is once again detained by the ICPC

According to Azuka Ogugua, a spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency, he was detained on Thursday in Abuja. 

A former registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde, has been re-arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC). 

According to Azuka Ogugua, a spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency, he was detained on Thursday in Abuja. 

In a statement on Thursday, she stated that “Prof. Ojerinde’s re-arrest followed a warrant issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja.” 

He is anticipated to speak with a team of investigators about fresh information related to his ongoing prosecution for diverting cash while serving as a public official. 

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She claims that ICPC agents discovered two accounts formed in the names of Sapati International Schools Ltd. and Trillium Learning Centre Ltd., into which money had been misappropriated using bogus student names. 

The former JAMB Registrar was called by the Commission on December 12 to testify regarding the fresh evidence, but he wrote through his attorney requesting a 14-day grace period to honour the invitation. But after the 14-day grace period ended on December 27, 2022, Ojerinde declined to accept the invitation as promised by his attorney, according to the statement. 

“As part of its ongoing inquiry, the Commission has uncovered further information that implies Ojerinde is the only signer on a number of bank accounts held in the names of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd. and Sapati International School Ltd. According to reports, Ojerinde used fake identities and forgeries to handle such accounts under the names Joshua Olakulehin Olaniran and Akanbi Lamidi, respectively. 

He allegedly also used the fictitious name “Adeniyi Banji” to run another account under the name “Standout Institutes Ltd.” Ojerinde, who has been detained at the Commission’s headquarters, has handed over the chequebooks for the accounts of the companies to the ICPC. 

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

While serving as the head of two government organisations, the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB, Ojerinde is currently being prosecuted by the Commission at the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Minna on an 18-count charge involving abuse of office and fraud amounting to about N10 billion. 

The ICPC spokesperson said Ojerinde “allegedly conferred corrupt advantages upon himself at different times while being Head of JAMB and NECO, thereby violating Sections 19, 24, and 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.”