Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have agreed to explore an out-of-court settlement in the ₦5.2 billion corruption case brought against him.
The agreement was disclosed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu presides over the matter. Shortly after the court convened, Ojerinde’s counsel, Eteya Ogana, informed the judge of a significant development. Although the hearing was originally scheduled for the defence to begin its case, Ogana stated that both parties were now engaged in discussions aimed at resolving the matter through administrative means.
Ogana requested that the court adjourn the case to a later date, following the vacation period, to allow time for both sides to finalize the resolution. The ICPC’s legal representative, Lesie Iheduru, confirmed the development, affirming that reconciliation talks were indeed ongoing.
Following the submissions from both parties, Justice Egwuatu postponed the case to October 20 for either a report on the settlement efforts or for the continuation of the defence.
This is not the first time efforts have been made to reach a resolution outside formal trial proceedings. In February 2022, Ojerinde had initially proposed a plea bargain to the ICPC, though those efforts eventually fell through.
The former JAMB boss was first arraigned in July 2021 on an 18-count charge filed by the ICPC. The charges, which he has denied, center on allegations of corruption and financial misconduct during his tenures as head of both JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
During the trial, Ojerinde sought to terminate the proceedings by filing a no-case submission, arguing through his legal team that the ICPC had failed to present compelling evidence that would warrant a defence. The court, however, disagreed.
In a ruling delivered on June 10, Justice Egwuatu dismissed Ojerinde’s no-case submission. He ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient material through its witnesses, warranting the continuation of the trial and requiring Ojerinde to respond to the allegations.
The ICPC maintains that Ojerinde orchestrated several fraudulent activities during his time as chief executive of the two major educational bodies. According to the prosecution, the former registrar abused his office and diverted public funds amounting to ₦5.2 billion for personal benefit.
Among the evidence presented, ICPC prosecutor Ebenezer Shogunle alleged that Ojerinde granted himself corrupt advantages on multiple occasions, actions which the agency says contravened several sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, as well as provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
What you should know
Professor Dibu Ojerinde served as the Registrar of JAMB and NECO, two key institutions overseeing standardized testing in Nigeria.
The ₦5.2 billion fraud allegations against him involve alleged mismanagement and self-enrichment during his leadership of both bodies. The current move toward an out-of-court settlement follows previous failed attempts at a plea bargain.
