A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former JAMB Registrar, Dibu Ojerinde, must face the charges brought against him, rejecting his attempt to halt proceedings.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the decision, turning down a no-case submission filed by Ojerinde, who is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The case, which has been ongoing since July 2021, involves 18 charges linked to an alleged N5.2 billion fraud.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu stated that the prosecution had presented enough evidence through its witnesses to warrant a response from the defendant. The case will now proceed to the defence stage.
He, thereby, ruled that the no-case submission failed and was dismissed.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered Ojerinde to enter his defence and adjourned the matter to July 16, 2025.
The ICPC is alleging that Ojerinde committed multiple frauds while heading the National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB.
The former JAMB registrar was arraigned over allegations bordering on abuse of office and fraudulent diversion of funds from government coffers to the tune of ₦5.2 billion
He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
In the proof of evidence tendered before the court by the prosecution counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, the ICPC also accused Ojerinde of conferring corrupt advantage upon himself at different times while he was the registrar and chief executive of JAMB and NECO, respectively.
The allegations violate sections 19, 24, 25 (1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and section 1 (1) (1) (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
In February 2022, Ojerinde entered a Plea Bargain through his counsel, Ibrahim Ishyaku, but it failed, and the trial continued.
The ICPC has closed its case after calling several witnesses to substantiate the allegations.
But Ojerinde decided to file a no-case submission, which the court dismissed.
* Media Report