The trial of former Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, and four of his children was on Monday, stalled at a Federal High Court, Abuja following a plea for an adjournment by the defence.
The matter, which was listed for trial, could not proceed after counsel for the defence, Ibrahim Isiyaku, SAN, sought an adjournment before Justice Inyang Ekwo to enable him make proper arrangement for the defendants’ representation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) had, on June 15, arraigned the ex-JAMB registrar on charges of official corruption and abuse of office.
In a charge marked: FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, Ojerindebwas arraigned alongside four of his children; Mary Ojerinde, Olumide Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Ojerinde as 8th to 11th defendants.
Also joined in the 17-count charge are six companies linked to him, namely: Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited as 2nd to 7th defendants respectively.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against them, and were granted bail by the court.
When the matter was called, Isiyaku, who announced appearance for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th defendants, acknowledged the matter was slated for trial.
He, however, said that though the matter was brought to his office and there had been appearances before for all the defendants in his absence, he only came into the matter fully the previous day.
“Having studied the file, I realise that we cannot appear for all the defendants but seven of the defendants only in order to avoid conflict of interest.
“I have already discussed with the prosecution that we shall be seeking for adjournment and later arrange counsel for the other four defendants,” he said.
ICPC’s lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, did not oppose the application.
But Shogunle stated that he could only conceded for an adjournment for a day since the matter continued the following day as their witnesses were on ground.
Isiyaku, who insisted he would not be around on Tuesday, said he had an election petition matter to attend to.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 for commencement of trial.
