Afrigather Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja, on Wednesday, stated he didn’t signal the arrest warrant resulting in the January 26 re-arrest of a former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.
Justice Egwuatu said this following counsel to Ojerinde, Eteya Ogana’s argument on the declare by the Impartial Corrupt Practices and different associated offences Fee, that an arrest warrant obtained for his consumer’s re-arrest was unfaithful.
The decide, who stated he was unaware of the ex-JAMB registrar’s, re-arrest, stated, “I don’t know why he was re-arrested. I’m simply listening to for the primary time. Should you stated there’s warrant, I didn’t signal any warrant.”
The Information Company of Nigeria stories that the ICPC had, on January 26, re-arrested the ex-JAMB registrar, who’s dealing with trial on an 18-count cost bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of N5 billion.
The operatives of the anti-corruption fee made the arrest throughout the court docket premises shortly after the listening to.
NAN, nevertheless, gathered that the re-arrest couldn’t be unconnected to the recent information rising from his ongoing trial and made by the fourth prosecution witness, former Deputy Director of Finance of JAMB, Mr Jimoh Olabisi.
A supply from the fee had claimed that a warrant of arrest for Ojerinde’s re-arrest was obtained from the FHC Chief Choose, Justice John Tsoho.
On the resumed listening to on Wednesday, counsel to ICPC, Ebenezer Shogunle, knowledgeable that although the matter was adjourned for continuation of listening to and two prosecution witnesses have been in court docket, he can be in search of an adjournment in settlement with the defence counsel.
Shogunle notified the court docket that Ojerinde was re-arrested on suspicion that he may need dedicated another offences not unconnected with the current prices earlier than the court docket.
He stated for that reason, the fee “obtained a warrant of this honourable court docket dated sixth of December, 2022.”
Though Shogunle didn’t point out the decide from whom the warrant was obtained, he nevertheless stated that the recent investigation train was about 90 per cent full.
He stated Ojerinde’s lawyer had been cooperative with the investigation course of.
“We now have accordingly agreed to strategy your lordship for an adjournment of this matter to a date on 14, 15, 16 of March after the election,” he stated.
However Ogana, who appeared for ex-JAMB boss, disagreed with Shogunle on his consumer’s re-arrest.
He stated on the final adjourned date after the continuing, the operatives of ICPC intercepted them and took Ojerinde away underneath the guise that they have been inviting him for an evidence.
The lawyer stated his consumer had been within the fee’s custody because the re-arrest.
“This morning, he got here from their custody,” he stated.
Ogana stated regardless of Ojerinde not breaching the bail phrases, they weren’t served with the warrant earlier than he was re-arrested.
“My buddy made point out of a warrant from this honourable court docket. We’re not within the know sir.
“We don’t have such order and the defendant has been having fun with bail graciously granted by this honourable court docket in addition to the one granted in continuing in Minna,” he stated.
The lawyer argued that if there have been uncovered proof towards his consumer, ICPC was at liberty to file extra proof of proof and to not re-arrest him.
“There isn’t any proof earlier than this court docket or any court docket to indicate that the defendant violated the phrases of bail granted to him. We, due to this fact, submit that the defendant be allowed to proceed with the bail,” he stated.
Ogana additionally stated that they have been unaware of transfer to have interaction in plea discount opposite to Shogunle’s submission.
The decide then requested Shogunle, “You stated this court docket granted your utility for arrest warrant? And I didn’t signal any. Which court docket?”
“I can’t be part of situation with him for his principal will not be right here my lord,” Shogunle responded.
The ICPC lawyer stated if Ogana stated he was unaware of any warrant, “that’s merely a matter between himself and the defendant.”
He stated the warrant was served on Ojerinde “and the defendant was required to have a solicitor of his selection current.”
He stated Ojerinde, in exercising of his proper, selected I.L.S Regulation Agency the place two attorneys; Mr B.A. Oyefeso and Mr Adebisi, had been visiting him in custody.
“Oyefeso particularly advised us he’s appearing on behalf of the learner silk,” he added.
Shogunle, due to this fact, hinted that he had an utility in search of the court docket’s reconsideration of the bail granted to Ojerinde.
He stated although he filed it early within the morning, he deliberate to serve the defence with a duplicate.
He, nevertheless, made an oral utility pursuant to Section169 and 175 of Administration of Legal Justice Act (ACJA) for the reconsideration of Ojerinde’s bail.
However Justice Egwuatu declined to grant it. Egwuatu, who stated the appliance was not within the court docket report, stated “I can’t do this orally.”
Ogana, who insisted that the appropriate of Ojerinde was being breached, stated Shogunle was but to inform the court docket who signed the warrant.
He argued that the fee solely filed one other utility so as to right what they’d wrongly achieved.
The decide then advised Ogana that if he stated the appropriate of Ojerinde had been breached, he ought to know what to do.
He adjourned the matter till March 20 for trial continuation.
NAN stories that the ICPC had, on July 8, 2021, arraigned the previous JAMB registrar on an 18-count cost
He was stated to have dedicated the offence throughout his tenure as registrar of the Nationwide Examinations Council and JAMB.
Ojerinde, nevertheless, pleaded not responsible to all the fees and was later admitted to bail within the sum of N200 million.
NAN
