The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in his ongoing trial over alleged N5.2 billion fraud.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the ruling on Tuesday, held that the prosecution, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had presented sufficient evidence establishing elements of the offences against Ojerinde that warrant him to enter a defence.
“The no-case submission fails and is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled, before adjourning the matter to July 16 for the defendant to open his defence.
Ojerinde is standing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraudulent diversion of public funds during his tenure as head of both JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO). He was arraigned in July 2021 and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
In its case, the ICPC accused the former registrar of conferring corrupt advantages upon himself, diverting funds from government coffers, and engaging in various acts of financial impropriety. These offences are said to violate provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
Despite attempts at a plea bargain in February 2022—which ultimately failed—the anti-graft agency proceeded with the trial and has since closed its case after calling several witnesses.