The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained a former Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, for allegedly misappropriating N900 million.
Ojerinde, who was arrested on March 15, 2021, in Abuja by ICPC operatives, allegedly committed multiple cases of fraud while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).
The alleged offences were perpetrated between 1999 and 2007 as well as 2008 and 2016.
The embattled ex-Registrar was alleged to have awarded contracts worth over N450 million beyond his approval threshold.
Most of the contractors could not be traced as at the time of his arrest.
But the ICPC has seized some choice assets traced to Ojerinde, who is an Emeritus Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
A statement by the commission’s spokesperson Mrs. Azuka C. Ogugua, said Ojerinde had made useful statement.
Last night, a top source revealed how Ojerinde allegedly indulged in fraudulent deals.
A top source said the ex-Registrar was being questioned over allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, theft, Advance Fee Fraud, money laundering, making false statements to public officials and tax evasion, among others.
The source said some choice assets of the ex-Registrar have been seized, following a court order.
The source claimed that investigation had “successfully linked the source of N1.7 billion used to acquire some of the properties to NECO and JAMB through a private solicitor based in Abuja.
“The solicitor admitted that he collected the funds on various dates from an accountant who served under Prof. Ojerinde in both agencies”.
Also, a Federal High Court in Minna, the Niger State capital, has given an order of restitution and forfeiture to the Federal Government of all the assets that were found to have been corruptly acquired with public funds for Ojerinde.
A document obtained last night confirmed the forfeiture, based on a court order.
