Ojerinde, ICPC Agree to Settle ₦5.2BN Fraud Case Out of Court

Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have opted for an out-of-court settlement in the ongoing ₦5.2 billion fraud case.

This was revealed on Monday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja when the case came up for hearing.

Ojerinde’s lawyer, Eteya Ogana, told the court that although the matter was scheduled for the defence to open its case, both parties were now exploring the possibility of resolving the matter administratively.

“We shall be asking for a long date after vacation to enable us to report same,” Ogana said.

Counsel to the ICPC, Lesie Iheduru, confirmed the development and added that reconciliation talks were underway.

Following the submissions, Justice Egwuatu adjourned proceedings to October 20 for a report on the settlement process or, if unresolved, continuation of the defence.

This is not the first time Ojerinde has sought a settlement. In February 2022, he entered a plea bargain agreement with the ICPC, but it later collapsed, prompting a full trial.

He was first arraigned by the commission in July 2021 on an 18-count charge bordering on corruption and criminal diversion of public funds during his time as head of both the National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Earlier in June, Justice Egwuatu dismissed Ojerinde’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring the defendant to open his defence.

Through his lawyer, the former JAMB boss had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case and asked the court to dismiss the charges. But the ICPC disagreed, insisting that its witnesses had clearly identified elements of the offences and that Ojerinde should be made to stand trial.

The commission accused him of multiple acts of fraud, including abuse of office and the diversion of public funds amounting to ₦5.2 billion while serving as Registrar of NECO and JAMB.

According to the proof of evidence presented by ICPC counsel Ebenezer Shogunle, Ojerinde was alleged to have used his position to confer corrupt advantages on himself in breach of Sections 19, 24, 25 (1)(a)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, as well as Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.