News
EFCC re-arrests Dibu Ojerinde, ex-JAMB registrar
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) have arrested Dibu Ojerinde, a former registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
BODEX BLOG had reported that Jimoh Olabisi, former deputy director at JAMB, alleged in court on Wednesday that the former registrar used him to divert federal government funds.
Olabisi, a witness of the ICPC, spoke at the federal high court in Abuja.
The ICPC had arraigned Ojerinde on July 6, 2021, on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion.
The commission alleged that the former registrar committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).
Ojerinde pleaded not guilty to the allegations and was granted bail in the sum of N200 million.
‘HOW OJERINDE USED ME TO DIVERT FUNDS’
Olabisi told the court on Wednesday, that he was in charge of opening accounts for JAMB and admitted to opening an account in the name of JAMB/J.O. Olabisi in a commercial bank on the instruction of Ojerinde.
He said it was through this account that funds were moved from the government’s coffers.
“The authority to open the account — the letter to the bank — was jointly signed by Ojerinde and the then director of finance and accounts (DFA), Mallam Umar Yakubu, with specific mandate that I should be the operator of that account,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“I explained in one of my appearances here that the account was opened following an agreement between the defendant (Ojerinde) and myself as a way of deviating from what we were using in National Examinations Council (NECO) to divert public funds.
“So, the defendant subsequently discussed the issue with the DFA, hence the letter.”
The witness said the account was opened without approval from Jonah Otunla, the then accountant-general of the federation.
“However, the registrar convinced the then DFA. He told him that he had gotten the approval of the AGF who happens to come from the same zone with the defendant,” he said.
Olabisi also said Ojerinde owned a microfinance bank, Osanta Microfinance Bank Ltd while serving in government.
He also admitted to being a director at the bank.
“I was put there to ease the movement of government money to the bank. The defendant is the chairman, board of directors of the bank,” he said.
The witness also said the ex-JAMB registrar used his position to award contracts to his private companies through the Zenith Bank account number, 1012411301, of JAMB.
Obiora Egwuatu, the judge, adjourned the matter until Thursday for the continuation of trial after a motion by Ebenezer Shogunle, the ICPC lawyer.
News
FAAN diverts flights as fire breaks out at Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Flight operations at terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have been diverted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the D Wing following a fire outbreak at the facility.
Obiageli Orah, director, public affairs and consumer protection, FAAN, said the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday.
In a statement, Orah said at “05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing”.
“The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire,” she said.
“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress.”
News
JUST IN: 118 inmates escaped from Suleja prison during heavy rainfall, says NCoS
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) says 118 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state on Wednesday, during a downpour.
In a statement on Thursday, Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the federal capital territory (FCT) command of the NCoS, said the rainfall ravaged parts of the prison.
He added that the command, in collaboration with security agencies, has apprehended 10 of the fleeing inmates, while raising concerns over the weak walls of the facility which he said were built during the colonial era.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the medium security custodial centre, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 118 inmates of the facility,” the statement reads.
“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.
“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak.
“The service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.”
He said Francis John, controller of corrections, FCT command, has called on the public to carry on with their normal activities, adding that the service is working to address the situation.
News
Police order arrest of officers bashing car in viral video
Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has ordered the arrest of officers seen in a viral video bashing a moving car.
Adejobi condemned the incident and called for the identification and summon of the officers involved.
On Wednesday, an X user quoted a video with the words: “Can we agree finally say na animals una carry guns and uniforms give?… The Nigerian Police is the most UNPROFESSIONAL in the entire solar system.”
Reacting to the video, Adejobi wrote: “This is condemned totally. How can human beings be behaving in this unholy manner. #BenHundeyin, #LagosPoliceNG, #PoliceNG_CRU take necessary action. Fish out and invite the men immediately. Thanks.”
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