A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned trial of the former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Dibu Ojerinde, till June 20 for continuation of trial.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the adjournment to enable Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, tidy its house and call other witnesses.
ICPC’s lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, had moved an oral application for that request.
Meanwhile, Ojerinde’s lawyer, Eteya Ogana, informed the court of a motion filed to challenge the re-arrest of his client and seeking an order for his release. He alleged his client was re-arrested by ICPC without warrant.
However, the judge could not find the process in the court record.
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Ogana admitted the mistake was from defence team, saying ‘we erroneously used the wrong charge number in filing the motion’.
Contrary to Ogana’s submission, ICPC’s lawyer insisted the it had a warrant to re-arrest Ojerinde. “I want my lord to inspect that warrant leading to his re-arrest’’.
He added that there was another application by the defendant seeking his release before Justice Inyang Ekwo, where Ojerinde is on trial with his children, noting “I think we should wait for that decision”.
Shogunle, therefore, sought adjournment to enable ICPC assemble its witnesses. He hinted three witnesses were remaining to testify.
Four witnesses had given testimonies in the money laundering case, including the late Jimoh Olabisi, who died on April 16.
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Olabisi, the key witness, was Ojerinde’s kinsman and confidant, and the board’s deputy director of Finance while Ojerinde was in office.
ICPC, on July 8, 2021, arraigned Ojerinde on 18-count charge of diversion of N5 billion. He allegedly committed the offence during his tenure as registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB.
Ojerinde pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was admitted to bail at N200 million.
But ICPC, on January 26, re-arrested him on the court premises in connection to facts made by the late Olabisi.
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