A former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde opted for a plea bargain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) over alleged N5Bn fraud.
Ojerinde was arraigned by the ICPC on July 8, 2021, on 18 charges bordering on the diversion of public funds to the tune of N5Bn.
He allegedly committed the offense during his tenure as Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.
Ojerinde’s trial was scheduled to commence yesterday, Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja but his lawyer pleaded with Justice Obiora Egwuatu to give him 24 hours to settle out of court with the ICPC through a plea bargain instead of a formal trial.
His lead counsel, Ibrahim Ishyaku (SAN) told the presiding judge, “My lord, our plea is that we should be given 24 hours to explore the possibility of a plea bargain to resolve this matter and we ask that the trial be adjourned for the period to enable us to come up with our terms of the settlement.”
ICPC’s lawyer did not object to the request, however, insisted that the trial would proceed in case the plea bargain fails.
The presiding judge fixed February 9 for the report of the plea bargain deal to be presented.
