N900m fraud suit against Dibu Ojerinde, ex-JAMB registrar, adjourned till June 20

A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Dibu Ojerinde, former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to June 20. 

The adjournment was at the instance of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC)  to enable it to assemble its witnesses. 

In April 2020, the ICPC secured an interim forfeiture of some of Ojerinde’s assets which were said to be proceeds of crime. 

In March 2021, he was arrested by the ICPC while on July 6, he was arraigned on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion while he was the head of JAMB.

Ojerinde pleaded not guilty to the charges and was later granted bail. 

However, on January 2023, Ojerinde was re-arrested by the ICPC in Abuja at the premises of a federal high court. 

At the resumed trial on Thursday, Eteya Ogana, defendant’s counsel told the court that a motion had been filed challenging the re-arrest of his client and seeking an order for his release.

He alleged that Ojerinde was re-arrested by the commission without an arrest warrant. 

However, the judge could not find the process in the court record. 

Ogana later admitted that he erroneously filed the motion with a different suit number.

The lawyer said instead of putting the charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/97/21 in the application, he erroneously wrote FHC/ABJ/CR/74/21.

Responding, Ebenezer Shogunle, ICPC lawyer, said even if the application was in the court file, it had been overtaken by event. 

He noted that there was another application filed by the defendant seeking his release before another judge, Inyang Ekwo, before whom Ojerinde is also standing trial alongside his children. 

“I think we should wait for that decision,” Shogunle said.

He said the commission also obtained an arrest warrant.

“I will want my lord to inspect that warrant leading to his re-arrest,” he said.

Shogunle sought an adjournment to enable the commission to assemble its witnesses for the trial.

He hinted that three witnesses were remaining to testify before the court.

Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, granted the adjournment.