Former Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Registrar Dibu Ojerinde filed a no-case submission in a ₦5.2 billion fraud case brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), but it was dismissed by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to reports, the court determined on Tuesday that Ojerinde has a case to answer based on the anti-graft agency’s initial evidence.
Justice Egwuatu’s order stated that Ojerinde had to enter his defense since the prosecution’s witnesses had sufficiently connected him to the accused offenses.
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This dismisses the no-case submission.
The judge declared that “the prosecution has established enough evidence to require the defendant to offer explanations.”
In order to give the defendant time to present his defense, the case was postponed until July 16.
Ojerinde, a former head of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB, was charged with 18 counts in July 2021 that included conspiracy to defraud the federal government, abuse of office, and illegal diversion of public monies.
Ebenezer Shogunle, lead counsel for the ICPC, claims that the alleged offenses are in violation of sections 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006 and 19, 24, 25(1)(a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act of 2000.
Through his attorney Ibrahim Ishyaku (SAN), Ojerinde had tried to reach a plea agreement in February 2022, but the agreement fell through and the trial went forward.
The defense filed a no-case submission, which was later struck out, after the ICPC questioned several witnesses and concluded its case.
As registrar at JAMB and NECO, Ojerinde was charged by the ICPC of transferring billions of naira into personal accounts and private firms, among other major charges.
In addition, the panel said that he violated anti-graft legislation by giving himself an unfair benefit.
But Ojerinde has entered a not guilty plea to every accusation.
