*ICPC to challenge court decision
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has awarded N1m fine against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for the unlawful detention of former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde.
The court in its ruling also awarded the sum of N200,000 as a fine against the ICPC as Ojerinde’s cost of instituting the suit.
The court held that it was undisputed that there was a pending charge against the ex-JAMB boss bordering on conspiracy to sell, sale of forfeited property, and multiple identity cards with different names against Ojerinde.
He, however, held that Ojerinde is presumed innocent until he has been proven guilty.
Justice Egwuatu held that although there was a fresh charge against the professor and his arraignment before a sister court was thwarted because of the court vacation and non-sitting of court, detaining him without an order of detention for the duration of custody was a violation of his fundamental rights.
More so, the justice held that though the rearrest of the ex-JAMB boss on January 26 was lawful based on the search warrant obtained from the chief judge of the court, the anti-graft commission ought to have obtained a detention warrant since Ojerinde would not be immediately arraigned.
Following, he declared that Ojerinde’s continued detention was unlawful, illegal and a breach of his right.
He ordered that the embattled former JAMB registrar be released or arraigned immediately.
Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practises And Other Related Offences Commission is set to file an appeal following the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering it to pay the former registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Dibu Ojerinde, the sum of N1 million as damages.
ICPC revealed this in a post captioned “Ojerinde: ICPC Set to Appeal Ruling” and shared on its official Twitter handle (@icpcnigeria) on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports on Wednesday that the Federal High Court, Abuja, awarded a N1 million fine against the ICPC for the unlawful detention of former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Dibu Ojerinde.
In the ruling, Justice Obiora Egwuatu also awarded the sum of N200,000 as a fine against the ICPC for Ojerinde’s cost of instituting the suit.
Justice Egwuatu held that it was undisputed that there was a pending charge against the ex-JAMB boss bordering on conspiracy to sell, sale of forfeited property, and multiple identity cards with different names against Ojerinde.
“The ICPC has expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission intends to appeal the ruling of the court. The anti-corruption agency had a valid warrant issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court dated December 6, 2022, the ICPC said on Wednesday.
The ICPC had dragged the ex-JAMB boss before Justice Egwuatu in an 18-count money-laundering suit.
He was accused of diverting public funds to the tune of N5 billion.
Ojerinde was, however, re-arrested on January 26 by the operatives of the anti-graft commission while he was heading to his car with one of his sons after Justice Egwuatu adjourned further proceedings in the charge preferred against him.
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