Ex-JAMB registrar Ojerinde awarded N1m in damages over wrongful detention by ICPC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fined the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) N1 million for unlawfully detaining the former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde. Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that Ojerinde’s detention without order was a violation of his fundamental rights. Although there were pending charges against him, the court held that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The judge also stated that the ICPC should have obtained a detention warrant if Ojerinde was not going to be immediately arraigned. Consequently, the court ordered the immediate release or arraignment of Ojerinde and directed the ICPC to pay him N1 million as damages for the breach of his right to liberty, along with N200,000 as the cost of the suit.

However, the court did not grant the other reliefs sought by Ojerinde. He had filed the suit to enforce his fundamental rights after being re-arrested on January 26 within the court premises. The ICPC had accused Ojerinde of diverting public funds amounting to N5 billion and had initially brought an 18-count money-laundering suit against him.

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