Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde be remanded in prison custody
Ojerinde was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission(ICPC) on an 18-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2021, in which he was accused, among others, of complicity in the diversion of public funds estimated at over N5.2billion while he served as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO).
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. According to ICPC, there is no evidence to show that the items which are examination materials were supplied as the contractors cannot be found.
Dring his arraignment this morning, Ojerinde pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. His lawyer, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN), subsequently informed the court about a bail application he filed and served on the prosecution. Olorunnishola however sought time to react to the counter-affidavit filed by lawyer to the prosecution, Ebenezer Shogunle, which the defense lawyer said was served on him late.
Shogunle, who did not object to Olorunnishola’s request for time, opposed the defense lawyer’s application that his client is allowed to remain on the administrative bail, earlier granted him by the ICPC, pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on Tuesday, ordered that Ojerinde be kept in a correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for Thursday, July 8.
