The N5.2 bn corruption case involving former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Professor Dibu Ojerinde (JAMB) continued at the Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday.
At Wednesday’s hearing, a witness of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Peter Oyewole said Professor Ojerinde floated 8 companies, purchased three buildings and numerous bank shares through his cronies while holding public office.
The witness who is a Legal Adviser to the ex-JAMB Registrar admitted that he incorporated the 8 companies and purchased the three houses for Ojerinde as his client on oral and written instructions.
The alleged companies are Oke-Afin Boys and Girls Hostel Limited, Sapati International School, Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Standout Institute Limited, Trillion Learning Center Limited, Grace Petroleum Limited and Ifelodun Communications Limited.
Led in evidence by ICPC counsel, Ebenezer Sogunle, the witness testified that Ojerinde was registered as Director in two of the companies while names of his cronies were used as Directors in the rest adding that he never met any of the cronies at the time he was using their names at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
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The cronies used to register the companies included names such as Ojerinde Dayo, Ojerinde Olumide, Awodayo Habib, Adeyanju Gbenga, Ojerinde Olutoyin, Ojerinde Akanbi, Ojerinde Adedayo, Olayiwola Ayanwale and Ibrahim Danmusa, Ojerinde Dibu, Sanusi Alade Najeem among other names.
The receipts obtained in the course of transactions for the defendant were said to have been received and acknowledged in writing on behalf of the defendant by his son, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Olumide Ojerinde.
Certificates of Incorporation for the companies and title documents of the three buildings allegedly purchased for the defendant in Abuja, letters exchanged with the defendant as well as 17 photocopies of bank drafts issued for his payment for the registration of the companies and the purchase of the three buildings were all tendered and admitted in evidence.
However, Ojerinde’s counsel, Ibrahim Ishyaku could not cross examine the witness on the grounds that several documents tendered and admitted as exhibits were not part of the proof of evidence supplied him.
He therefore sought for an adjournment to enable him obtain the documents and carefully study them.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed April 4 for continuation of trial.
(Editor : Oloyede Oworu)
