Former registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Dibu Ojerinde on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja he had opted for plea bargain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ojerinde is standing trial for money laundering to the tune of N900 million.
Represented by his lead counsel, Ibrahim Ishyaku, the former JAMB boss told Justice Obiora Egwuatu to give him 24 hours to settle out of court with the ICPC.
Ishyaku informed the judge that the trial could commence if, after 24 hours, the matter could not be resolved.
“My Lord, our plea is that we be given 24 hours to explore the possibility of plea bargain to resolve this matter and we ask that the trial be adjourned for the period to enable us come up with our terms of settlement,” he said.
ICPC lawyer Ebenezer Sogunle did not object to the request.
ICPC had on July 8, 2021, arraigned the former JAMB registrar on an 18-count charge.
He was said to have committed the alleged offences during his tenure as registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.
Ojerinde however pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was later admitted to bail in the sum of N200 million.
Justice Egwuatu fixed February 9 for the report of the plea bargain to be presented.
