By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, (ICPC) on Friday failed to arraign three sons and a daughter-in-law at the arraignment of a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Professor Lawrence Adedibu Ojerinde, on fresh corruption charges.
Ojerinde’s planned arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja along with his three sons and a daughter-in-law was aborted by the absence of the quartet because the anti-corruption agency could not find them to serve the criminal charges as required by law.
At Friday’s proceedings, only Ojerinde was in court while his three sons, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde, Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde and daughter- in- law, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde were absent.
The court was taken aback when ICPC lawyer, Mr Henry Emore, informed Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that he had not served the children of the former JAMB Registrar with the charges as required by law.
He subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him put his house in order.
But Justice Ekwo ordered that the criminal charges be served on Ojerinde’s children in the open court through their counsel, Mr Ajibola Bello, which was promptly carried out.
He subsequently fixed April 19 for arraignment with a warning that their would be consequencies should Ojerinde’s children refuse to appear in court on the adjourned date.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami filed the 17 counts criminal charges against the defendants on behalf of the Federal Government.
Apart from Ojerinde’s children, other defendants in charge are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centre Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and Esli Perfect Security Printers Ltd.
