Justice Obiora Egwuatu has rejected Professor Lawrence Adedibu Ojerinde’s no-case submission in an N5.2B charge against him. Egwuatu ruled against the case on Tuesday at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Ojerinde, who was charged with the fraud case by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was arraigned in 2021. In a proof of evidence endorsed by Ebenezer Shogunle, the prosecutor and the Deputy Commissioner of the ICPC, Ojerinde satisfied himself that he had received corrupt advantages when he headed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
In the ruling, Egwuatu revealed that seven of the charges against Ojerinde relate to advance fee fraud, while 11 others relate to corrupt practices. Considering this and other factors, the judge rejected Ojerinde’s submission and ordered him to enter his defence, which would commence on July 16. The ICPC is thoroughly focused on apprehending corrupt citizens, as it also secured the arrest of Mr. Emmanuel Ogunyemi.
Ogunyemi, a Lagos State civil servant, was arraigned for receiving double salaries from the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in violation of anti-corruption laws.