A Federal High court in Abuja has adjourned till 19 April 2023, for the re-arraignment of former Register of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, who was charged with seven counts bordering on money laundering by the Nigerian government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsels to the defendants announced the appearance of Ojerinde while the remaining ten defendants were not in court.
He was arraigned alongside his four children, Mary Funmilola, Olumide Abiodun, Adedayo and Oluwaseun Adeniyi, as well as six others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
Ojerinde’s planned arraignment at the court along with his three sons and a daughter-in-law was aborted by the failure of the Anti-graft agency to serve the criminal charges on his children as required by law.
At the Friday’s proceedings, only Ojerinde was in court while his three sons, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde and daughter- in- law, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde were absent.
The Court asked the ICPC lawyer, Mr. Henry Emore to serve the children of the former JAMB Registrar with the charges as required by law.
He subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him put his house in order.
In the bid to rescue him, Justice Ekwo ordered that the criminal charges be served on Ojerinde’s children in the open court through their counsel, Mr. Ajibola Bello which was promptly carried out.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed April 19 for arraignment with a warning that there would be consequences should Ojerinde’s children refuse to appear in court on the adjourned date.
The Nigerian government, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami filed the 17 counts criminal charges against the defendants.
Apart from Ojerinde’s children, other defendants in charge are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centre Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and Esli Perfect Security Printers Ltd.
