The former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde, his three sons and a daughter-in-law were on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja by the Federal Government for allegedly selling off its property in Ghana.
The accused persons who were all present in court were arraigned on a 17-count charge by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
In the new charge, the former JAMB Registrar is accused of selling off a Federal Government property situate at House No. 4, Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase Two, Accra, Ghana.
The House was said to have been sold out by Ojerinde and his sons after it was forfeited to the Federal Government in order to conceal corrupt benefits.
The fresh charge showed that the corrupt benefit was conferred on Ojerinde while being a public officer by one Jimoh Olabisi Olatunde through corrupt practices and abuse of office, contrary to Section 26 (1) ( c) and punishable under section 24 of the ICPC Act 2000.
Apart from Ojerinde, the three sons, who are co-defendants in the charge, are Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde while the daughter-in-law is Mary Funmilola Ojerinde.
The family companies arraigned with them, are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centers Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and ESLI Perfect Security Printers Ltd.
Apart from the alleged unlawful sale of the Federal Government property in Ghana, the former JAMB Registrar was also said to have used fake names to acquire the companies, opened bank accounts, acquired Petroleum Stations and bought landed properties in Ilorin, Kwara State while being a public officer.
The charges also showed that some of the sons allegedly acted as agents to facilitate the quick sales of the Federal Government House in Ghana.
When the charges were read out to the Ojerinde and his co-defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.
ICPC’s lawyer, Ebenezer Adenekan Shogunle objected to granting of bail to Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde on the grounds of their refusal to honour a series of invitations by the anti-graft agency as well as the likelihood of filing more charges against them.