Alleged N900m Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial Of Ex-JAMB Registrar, Dibu Ojerinde
On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the trial of Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), until October 8.
Following Ojerinde’s choice to change counsel, Justice Obiora Egwuatu set the date.
Peter Olorunnisola, SAN, had been representing the ex-JAMB chairman in the money laundering case brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission prior to his decision (ICPC).
In the complaint, titled FHC/ABJ/CR/97/21, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, claimed that the former chief executive officer committed various frauds while leading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).
Remember that the ICPC detained the previous chief executive officer on March 15 on suspicions of theft of money (alleged N900 million fraud).
On July 8, Justice Egwuatu granted Ojerinde bail in the amount of N200 million with two sureties.
After hearing the arguments of counsel, Egwuatu granted Ojerinde’s request, stating that one of the sureties must be a professor at a federal university.
He decided that the professor must present documentation of his or her professorship, including a letter of appointment and a staff identification card.
The other surety, according to Egwuatu, must own a landed property in Abuja worth the bail amount, which must be validated by the court registrar, among other things.
When the case was called for hearing, Itieubong Usoro, who represented Olorunnisola, informed the court of Ojerinde’s desire to detach the current chamber from his case.
Usoro intimated that Ojerinde and Olorunnisola needed to reach an agreement on various issues, including professional fees, before the former lawyer could legally withdraw from the case.
He then requested a recess to allow the concerns to be rectified.
Though the defendant has the right to seek an adjournment, according to ICPC lawyer Ebenezer Shogunle, this should not be exploited to postpone the trial.
“In the last adjourned date, the prosecution was in court with three witnesses and trial was adjourned at the instance of the defendant who complained of ill-health.
“As my lord is mindful to adjourn this matter to enable the defendant to resolve any matter he has with his counsel, we want the court to take cognisance of Section 396 of ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act) which allows for day-to-day trial,” he said.
The judge, who adjourned the matter until October 8 for commencement of trial, ordered the prosecution to come to court with its witnesses, NAN reports.
