Ex-JAMB Registrar, Ojerinde Forfeits Multi-Billion Naira Properties To FG.

"Each of the said properties was acquired with public funds which represents proceeds of unlawful corrupt activities", Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.


Former JAMB Registrar and academic Don, Professor Dibu Ojerinde has lost several properties linked to him, including his multi million naira Gravity FM, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, who spent several years as Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, joined the All Progressive Congress, APC after serving his father land in various capacities.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Nigeria capital, has ordered the interim forfeiture of Gravity FM, Igboho and some other of his properties belonging to Professor Dibu Ojerinde.

The other properties include Sapati International School, Ilorin, Filling Stations and some others to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Prof. Dibu Ojerinde was also tje pioneer Registrar of the National Examination Council, NECO, who, on his retirement from service and in the build up to the 2019 elections, aligned with the APC. His son, Hon. Olumide Ojerinde, subsequently contested the ticket for the  Oorelope/Irepo/Olorunsogo federal constituency seat which he won.

Former Governor Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi it will be recalled, had announced the name of Professor Ojerinde, Nigeria’s first Professor of Test and Measurement, as a member of the party’s Reconciliation Committee in his state, shortly after his own name was announced as the APC Deputy National Chairman (South). 

The Punch newspaper, in its publication on Friday, published the forfeiture order of Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu ruled that 'each of the said properties was acquired with public funds which represents proceeds of unlawful corrupt activities'.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in the order, stressed further that any person interested in the said properties should appear before the court to show cause within fourteen days of the publication why a final forfeiture order should not be made in favor of the Federal Government.

The properties of the Igboho-born politician, who recently joined the All Progressives Congress, will be managed and controlled by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Mr David Igbodo, an AIG (Rtd) has been appointed as the Interim Administrator pending further directives from the court. The Court order stated;

“An order of this Honourable court is hereby made for
 the interim forfeiture to the Federal Republic of Nigeria 
of all the immovable properties listed in A attached to 
the affidavit in support and marked by the Independent 
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) upon reasonable suspicion that each of the said properties was acquired with public funds and/or 
represents the proceeds of unlawful corrupt activities.

“An interim order of this Honourable Court is hereby 
made that the properties attached/forfeited in the 
interim and be managed and controlled by the 
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related 
Offences Commission,” the order read.

Some of the properties are;

(1) Oke Afin Hostels located opposite Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

 (2) Sapati International School Buildings and Premises located at Ajase Ipo Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

(3) Doyin Filling Station along Lagos--Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State

(4) Doyin Gas, Ibadan, Oyo State

(5) Soka Filling Station, along Lagos--Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State.

(6) Gravity FM Radio Station, Igboho, Oyo State.

(7) Tejumola House, Ikeja, Lagos State.

(8) A mansion at No 14 Yobe Close, Maitama, Abuja

(9) and Properties in South Africa.

(10) Shares in banks, fixed deposits and money in bank accounts were also part of the properties listed to be forfeited by the same order of the Court.

Courtesy: The Punch