ICPC set to appeal ruling ordering ex-JAMB registrar Ojerinde’s release

The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to appeal a court ruling that ordered the release of ex-Registrar of the Joint Administration and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had recently ordered the immediate release of the ex-JAMB boss.

Giving the order in a rights enforcement suit filed by Ojerinde, the court also ordered the Commission to pay one million naira cost to the plaintiff for unlawful arrest.

The court as well awarded the sum of N200,000 against the ICPC as cost of filing the case by the plaintiff.

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Reacting to the ruling in a statement on Wednesday, the ICPC said it intends to file an appeal, saying that it had a valid warrant issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court dated 6th December, 2022.

The statement read, “The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the civil rights claim filed by the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

“The court had fined the Commission N1 million damages and cost of N200,000 respectively for the arrest and detention of Prof Dibu Ojerinde over alleged corrupt practices.

“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 6th December, 2022.”

Ojerinde was arrested by the ICPC in 2021and was arraigned on an 18-count charge of alleged misappropria¬tion of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion on June 6 of the same year.

He was later granted bail but was rea-arrested in the court premises in January prompting the ex-JAMB boss to sue the commission for alleged violation of his right to dignity and liberty.