*A Federal High Court, in Abuja, dismisses the no-case submission filed by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, stating the ICPC witnesses have established ‘elements of the offence’ against Ojerinde that require him to enter a defence

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Insisting there are “elements of the offence” against the defendant, a Federal High Court, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Abuja, FCT, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, ex-Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Ojerinde is currently facing trial on an 18-count charge over alleged N5.2 billion fraud while in office as the Registrar of both JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO) in Nigeria.

Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, ruling on the defendant鈥檚 no-case submission Tuesday, held that witnesses the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) presented have established elements of the offence against Ojerinde that require him to enter a defence.

Justice Egwuatu stated: 鈥淭he no-case submission fails, and is dismissed.”

The Judge also ordered Ojerinde to enter his defence, and adjourned the matter till July 16 this year.

Earlier, the ICPC has alleged that Prof. Ojerinde committed multiple frauds while heading the National Examinations Council and JAMB respectively.

Officials of the anti-graft Commission had arraigned him July 2021 over allegations bordering on abuse of office and fraudulent diversion of funds from government coffers totalling N5.2 billion.

However, the former JAMB Registrar pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Yet, in the proof of evidence that Ebenezer Shogunle, prosecution counsel, tendered before the court, the Commission as well accused Ojerinde of conferring corrupt advantage upon himself at different times while he served as the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB and NECO.

According to ICPC, the allegations against him violate Sections 19, 24, 25 (1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and Section 1 (1) (1) (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

In February 2022, a plea bargain that Ojerinde entered into through his counsel, Ibrahim Ishyaku, failed, and the trial continued.

The ICPC has closed its case after calling several witnesses to substantiate the allegations.

Ojerinde, however, has decided to file a “no-case submission”, which the court has also dismissed.

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