ICPC re-arrests ex-JAMB registrar

Operatives of the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences (ICPC) have arrested Dibu Ojerinde, a former registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Recall that Jimoh Olabisi, former deputy director at JAMB, alleged in court docket on Wednesday that the previous registrar used him to divert federal authorities funds.

The ICPC operatives arrested Ojerinde shortly after the listening to earlier than Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal Excessive Court docket (FHC) in Abuja the place the previous JAMB Registrar has been standing trial on an 18-count cost bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of N5 billion.

Olabisi, a witness of the ICPC, spoke on the federal excessive court docket in Abuja.

The ICPC had arraigned Ojerinde on July 6, 2021, on an 18-count cost bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion.

The fee alleged that the previous registrar dedicated a number of frauds whereas heading JAMB and the Nationwide Examination Council (NECO).

Ojerinde pleaded not responsible to the allegations and was granted bail within the sum of N200 million.

Olabisi instructed the court docket on Wednesday, that he was in control of opening accounts for JAMB and admitted to opening an account within the identify of JAMB/J.O. Olabisi in a business financial institution on the instruction of Ojerinde.

He mentioned it was by way of this account that funds had been moved from the federal government’s coffers.

“The authority to open the account — the letter to the financial institution — was collectively signed by Ojerinde and the then director of finance and accounts (DFA), Umar Yakubu, with particular mandate that I ought to be the operator of that account,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“I defined in certainly one of my appearances right here that the account was opened following an settlement between the defendant (Ojerinde) and myself as a approach of deviating from what we had been utilizing in Nationwide Examinations Council (NECO) to divert public funds.

“So, the defendant subsequently mentioned the problem with the DFA, therefore the letter.”

The witness mentioned the account was opened with out approval from Jonah Otunla, the then accountant-general of the federation.

“Nevertheless, the registrar satisfied the then DFA. He instructed him that he had gotten the approval of the AGF who occurs to come back from the identical zone with the defendant,” he mentioned.

Olabisi additionally mentioned Ojerinde owned a microfinance financial institution, Osanta Microfinance Financial institution Ltd whereas serving in authorities.

He additionally admitted to being a director on the financial institution.

“I used to be put there to ease the motion of presidency cash to the financial institution. The defendant is the chairman, board of administrators of the financial institution,” he mentioned.

The witness additionally mentioned the ex-JAMB registrar used his place to award contracts to his personal firms by way of the Zenith Checking account quantity, 1012411301, of JAMB.

Obiora Egwuatu, the choose, adjourned the matter till Thursday for the continuation of trial after a movement by Ebenezer Shogunle, the ICPC lawyer.

In 2021, the court docket remanded the previous registrar to a jail facility.

(CABLE)