The former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Lawrence Ojerinde, his three sons and a daughter-in-law were on Thursday in Abuja put on fresh trial by the Federal Government.
In the third series of criminal charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja Ojerinde alongside his family’s six companies is accused of selling off a Federal Government property situate House No. 4, Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase two, Accra, Ghana.
The defendants who were docked on 17-count criminal charges by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The House was said to have been sold out by Ojerinde and his sons after it was forfeited to the Federal Government in order to conceal corrupt benefits.
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The fresh charge indicated that the corrupt benefit was conferred on Ojerinde while being a public officer by one Jimoh Olatunde through corrupt practices and abuse of office contrary to section 26 (1) ( c) and punishable under section 24 of the ICPC Act 2000.
Apart from Ojerinde, the three sons are Olumide Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Ojerinde while the daughter-in-law is Funmilola Ojerinde.
The family companies also put on trial are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centers Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and ESLI Perfect Security Printers Ltd.
Apart from the alleged unlawful sale of the Federal Government property in Ghana, the former JAMB Registrar was said to have used fake names to acquire the companies, opened bank accounts, acquired Petroleum Stations and bought landed properties in Ilorin, Kwara State while being public officer.
ICPC’S lawyer, Ebenezer Adenekan Shogunle objected vehemently to granting of bail to Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde on the grounds of their refusal to honour series of invitations by the anti-graft.
Justice Inyang Ekwo asked the ICPC’S lawyer if there are pending criminal charges against them and he admitted that Ojerinde was facing similar trial before a Niger State High Court in Minna and another one before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Ekwo invoked the previous bail conditions to admit Ojerinde to bail, since another court had once admitted him to bail.
The three sons and daughter-in-law were granted bail in the sum of N20M and one surety each in the like sum who must be property owners in Abuja with verified proof of ownership.
The original title documents of the properties must be deposited with the court while the defendants were ordered to deposit their traveling passports with the Court’s Registrar and must not travel out of the country without the permission of the Court.
Justice Ekwo ordered Ojerinde to immediately attend to his failling health so as to be able to stand for trial as required by law.
The Court subsequently fixed November 13, for trial, and the ICPC is expected to call 18 witnesses to testify against the defendants.
Editor: Hadiza.A.A
