OVER N900M FRAUD: CACOL COMMENDS ICPC ON THE ARRESTS EX-JAMB REGISTRAR, PROFESSOR OJERINDE
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has hailed the arrest of a former Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor DibuOjerinde, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly misappropriating 900 million Naira.
In a release issued by CACOL’s Director for Administration and Programmes, TolaOresanwo, on behalf of Mr. Debo Adeniran, the Chairman of the Centre, he stated, “It would be recalled that the former Registrar of JAMB 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). It was reported that Professor 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”.
“It is on record that just last year the current management of JAMB announced that it has returned 3.5billion Naira to the Federation Account from the excess generated from its operations during the conduct of 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) following the sales of ePINs to UTME candidates, bringing the total remittance that year by the board to 7billion Naira.What the former registrar couldn’t declare as surplus to the Government for 4years was declared within one year of the new Registrar. Professor Ojerinde should tell Nigerians why JAMB was unprofitable during his time”.
“We at CACOL, congratulate the ICPC for this bold move and we urge the staff of ICPC to carry out a thorough investigation of all the allegations leveled against the former registrar of JAMB followed by meticulous and diligent prosecution of this high-brow corruption case. This is a very laudable and cheering development, considering the multiplier and damaging effects of every strand of corruption case(s) on the psyche of our people especially the youth. It is even more devastating when the corrupt acts arecommitted by revered members of the academia who are supposed to be morally upright and serve as mentors that can be looked up to but unfortunately they have soiled their reputation by betraying the trust and confidence the country reposed in them cheaply by engaging in unethical and corrupt practices”.
TolaOresanwo (Mr.)
Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL