A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in his ongoing fraud trial.
Ojerinde is facing an 18-count charge involving allegations of financial misappropriation totaling N5.2 billion.
On Tuesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who is presiding over the case, ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require the defendant to respond to the charges.
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“The no-case submission fails and is dismissed,”the judge ruled.
The matter has been adjourned to July 16 to allow the defendant to open his defence.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused Ojerinde of multiple counts of corruption, including financial diversion and abuse of public office, during his tenure at both the National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB. He was first arraigned in July 2021 and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
According to court filings, ICPC prosecutor Ebenezer Shogunle presented detailed evidence alleging that Ojerinde improperly enriched himself while serving in both institutions. These actions reportedly violated several provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
An earlier attempt at a plea bargain in February 2022, negotiated through Ojerinde’s lawyer, Ibrahim Ishyaku, broke down, and the trial has continued since then. After presenting multiple witnesses, the ICPC concluded its case, prompting Ojerinde to seek a no-case dismissal—which the court has now overruled.
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