THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arrested a former Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, for allegedly misappropriating N900m.
Ojerinde, who was arrested on Monday in Abuja by ICPC operatives, was alleged to have committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council.
He has been detained by the Commission for questioning over allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion and making false statements to public officials.
The former JAMB boss was also being questioned by the anti-graft agency for allegedly awarding fraudulent contracts to shell companies which could not be traced.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, Ojerinde allegedly awarded contracts for the supply of pencils and erasers at the cost of N450m each to Double 07 Concept Ltd. and Pristine Global Concept Ltd., respectively, between 2013 and 2014 while heading JAMB.
The commission said, “There is no evidence to show that the items which are examination materials were supplied as the contractors cannot be found. Similar contracts were allegedly awarded to Solid Figures Limited, Holywalk Limited and other companies for various sums without any trace of executions.
“Prof. Ojerinde is being held on a remand warrant and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.”
Ojerinde was the JAMB boss between 2007 and 2016 but after his exit, his successor, Ishaq Oloyede, remitted unspent funds of about N5bn, an amount Ojerinde did not remit in his nine years in office.
