N5.2 billion of fraud accusations: former Registrar Jamb, ICPC explores the new settlement off the pitch

The former Chancellor of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and the independent corrupt practices and the other related crimes (ICPC) have resumed talks aimed at reaching an off -field agreement in the case of N5.2 billion fraud established against him.

At the hearing taken up Tuesday before the judge Obiro Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the lawyer of Ojerinde, Eteya Ogana, revealed that both sides were considering an administrative resolution of the case.

“There is a development – an intervention – that the parties are exploring to see if the question can be resolved administratively,” said Ogana to the Court. He requested a long update until after the court holiday to allow the time to conclude the settlement interviews.

The ICPC councilor, Lesie Iheduru, confirmed the development and said that the commission did not oppose the update.

Following this, the Justice Egwuatu updated the case until 20 October for a report on the outcome of the regulation’s efforts or to proceed with the defense.

This marks the second time that both sides are taking into consideration a plea bargain after a similar attempt in February 2022 has collapsed.

Ojerinde, who was in charge of the National Examinations Council (Neco) and Jamb, is facing an accusation of 18 counts on the border with the alleged corruption and the diversion of public funds equal to N5.2 billion. He was accused for the first time in July 2021 and declared himself not guilty of all the accusations.

The ICPC had said that Ojerinde, during his mandate as a managing director of both institutions, abused his office and defined enormous sums of money for personal benefit – actions that are said to violate the sections of the corrupt practices and other related crimes, 2000, and the Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

In June 2024, the Court rejected a presentation presented by the accused, declaring that a first Facie case had been established by the accusation and ordering Ojerinde to open his defense.

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