The court orders of the former clerk of the jamb to enter defense in the trial because of the alleged fraud N5.2bn

Judge Obiora Egwuatu from the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, rejected the submission without a case submitted by the former registrant along with the acceptance and the Matriculation Board (Jamb), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, in his trial due to alleged N5.2 billion fraud.

The judge, in the verdict, argues that the elements of violations that are liked by Ojerinde have been identified by the practice of independent corruption and other related violation witnesses (ICPC), which requires the defendant to enter the defense.

ICPC charged Ojerinde on the accusation of 18-corruption calculations.

The Commission accused that the former head of responsibility committed several frauds while leading the National Examination Council (NECO) and the Board.

He was originally charged in July 2021 before the Egwuatu judge for alleged abuse of position and transfer of funds that cheated from government coffers up to N5.2 billion.

He, however, claimed to be innocent for everything.

In the evidence being tendered before the court by the ICPC lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, the Commission accused Ojerinde of providing corrupt benefits to him at different times when he was a jamb and Neco registrar.

He stated that the action violated parts of 19, 24, 25 (1) (a) and (b) of corruption practices and other related violations, and part 1 (1) (b) Laws of Fraud Fraud Advanced, 2006.

However, Ojerinde, through his advisor, Ibrahim Ishyaku (San), in February 2022, chose to get a defense offer, but bargaining -the defense failed, after that the prosecution team, led by Shogunl, E moved for trial to continue.

Also read: Ojerinde Release Court Order, ICPC N1.2M fine

The commission gave witnesses to support his accusation against the defendant, after that the legal team submitted a submission without a case, insisting that the prosecution had failed to prove the prime facie case against their clients.

They prayed that the court refused the accusation of Ojerinde.

The prosecutor stated that the commission had determined his case and that the court had to order the boss of the former jamb to enter his defense.

Judge Egwuatu, in his decision, argued that the relevant law stipulated that the court must determine, among others, whether there is evidence that connects the defendant with the violation.

The judge observed that on charges of the defendant, seven of the accusations bordering cost fraud in advance, while others were related to corruption practices.

He noted that the witness had appeared in court to provide evidence relating to the accusation against the defendant.