ICPC stalls ex-JAMB Boss, Ojerinde, 3 sons, daughter’s arraignment

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday, stalled the arraignment of a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Professor Lawrence Adedibu Ojerinde on fresh corruption charges.

This is following the anticorruption agency’s failure to serve the criminal charges on exJamb boss’s children as required by law.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami is prosecuting Ojerinde, alongside his three sons and a daughter-in-law on 17 counts of criminal charges.

Apart from Ojerinde’s children, other defendants in charge are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centre Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and Esli Perfect Security Printers Ltd.

When the matter was called up, Friday, only Ojerinde was in court while his three sons, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde and daughter- in- law, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde were absent.

The counsel to the ICPC, Mr Henry Emore, informed Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that he had not served the children of the former JAMB Registrar with the charges as required by law.

He subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him put his house in order.

In the bid to rescue him out, Justice Ekwo ordered that the criminal charges be served on Ojerinde’s children in open court through their counsel, Mr Ajibola Bello which was promptly carried out.

The court however, warned that if the defendants failed to appear before it on the next adjourned date to take their plea, there shall be consequences.

Subsequently, the court adjourned to reconvene April 19, for arraignment.