Trial Of JAMB Officials Defer Till 2020 Over Judge’s Absence

The absence of Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday October 10, 2019, forced the adjournment of the trial of Priscilla Ogunsola and Daniel Agbo, both officers of Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB).

The judge’s absence prompted the prosecution and defence counsels to mutually agree on January 30, 2020 adjournment date.

Ogunsola and Agbo, who were the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board ( JAMB), Benin and Lokoja zonal offices state coordinators, among other crimes, are facing trial for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of fund, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ogunsola was arraigned on four-count charges, bordering on diversion of fund to the tune of N26,400,000 (Twenty Six Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira), only to personal use.

Count of the charge against Ogunsola reads: “That you, Mrs Priscilla Ogunsola and Cyril Izirein Imoukhuede (now deceased) between 2012 and 2016 in Abuja and Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while respectively being the State Coordinator and Revenue Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Benin Office, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N26,400,000 (Twenty Six Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) belonging to JAMB, an agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

Agbo, who was JAMB’s Lokoja Office coordinator, was also arraigned on four-count charges for crimes bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of the sum of N6,606,000 (Six Million, Six Hundred and Six Thousand Naira) only, belonging to JAMB.

Count two of the charge against Agbo reads: “That you, Daniel Agbo, between 2009 and 2016 in Abuja and Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being the State Coordinator of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board Zonal (JAMB), Lokoja Office, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N6,606,000 (Six Million, Six Hundred and Six Thousand Naira) belonging to JAMB, an agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

Both defendants had upon their arraignment, pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against them, thus, setting the stage for their trial.

While the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was present in today’s first adjourned date for the presentation of witnesses, the trial judge, Justice Affen was unavoidably absent.

The prosecution and defence counsels consequently adopted January 30, 2020, for the commencement of trial.