Absence of Defendants Stall Trial of Four Suspects Arrested for JAMB Registration Malpractice in Ondo

The absence of four suspects standing trial for Registration Impersonation and Examination malpractices of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in Ondo State was stalled at a Federal High Court sitting in Akure on Monday, following the failure of officials of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Olokuta, Akure, to produce them in court.

The registration impersonation suspects are Timilehin Akinwale, Olayinka Mustapha and Peter Okereke, while Feranmi Adesuyi was arraigned for examination impersonation.

According to the charge sheet, the first three defendants committed the impersonation act on Feb.15 at Aina Awaw International College,Ilu Abo, Akure, which was a CBT centre for Jamb registration and examination.

"That you Okereke Peter (m), 29yrs, Akinwale Timilehin (m), 22yrs and Mustapha Olayinka Idris (m), 23yrs on or about the 15th day of February, 2023 at Aina Awaw International College, Ilu Abo, a CBT Centre for JAMB Registration and Examination, Akure Ondo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did impersonated Folarin Damlok, Kazeem Imisi and Tijani Sheun respectively during CBT JAMB registration, contrary to section 3(3)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

"That you Feranmi Adesuyi (m), 29YRS, on or about the 28th day of April, 2023 at Amable Nig Ltd CBT center, Owo, during the 2023 JAMB Examination in Ondo State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire with one Sanusi Tunde, who is now at large, to complete his registration and also impersonate the said Sanusi Tunde for the JAMB Exam and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of Examination Malpractices Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004 and punishable under section 3(2)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004."

It said that the offense was contrary to section 3(3)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act, Cap E15, LFN, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, Counsel to the defendants Clement Falana and Austin Agbounghale, expressed their anger over the failure of the correctional centre officials to produce their clients in the court, having spent over six months in custody. 

Equally, they pleaded with the court to grant their clients bail, stating that the offences committed by the defendants were bailable without needing their presence in court.

Also, the Prosecuting Counsel, Moses Osimhen, informed the Court that he had his witnesses in court but lamented the absence of the defendants.

However, the Presiding Judge, Justice T. B. Adegoke, adjourned till December 7, 2023, ruling for trial and bail application for the defendants.

In addition, Justice Adegoke mandated that a production warrant be issued to Nigeria Correctional Centre, Olokuta Akure to produce the defendants in court to enable her attend to the trail and bail application.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the defendants broke down in tears when the judge announced the adjournment date as they were first remanded to prison custody on May 24th, 2023.