ex-JAMB registrar, Professor Ojerinde, arrested by ICPC over N900m fraud

Former JAMB Registrar Professor Dibu Ojerinde has been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly misappropriating N900 million.

Professor Ojerinde, who was arrested on 15th March 2021, in Abuja, by operatives of ICPC, is alleged to have committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).

A statement released by the commission says Ojerinde 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 is also being questioned by the Commission for allegedly awarding fraudulent contracts to shell companies that cannot be traced.

”He was alleged to have awarded contracts for the supply of pencil and eraser at the cost of N450 million each, to Double 07 Concept Limited and Pristine Global Concept Limited, respectively, between 2013 and 2014 while heading JAMB.

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.

Professor Ojerinde is being held on a remand warrant and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.’ the statement read in part.

Ojerinde was at the helm of JAMB between 2005 and 2015.

In 2015, when his successor Prof Oloyede took charge of JAMB, he reported an excess revenue of N5 billion within the first year, an incident which first bought Ojerinde’s tenure under scrutiny.

JAMB is Nigeria’s examination body which conducts entrance examinations into tertiary institutions across the country.