Petitions flood ICPC calling for probe of JAMB over alleged N11 billion fraud

Several petitions sighted by CAPITAL POST indicated an alleged massive fraud involving the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and some of his allies.

The petitioners are asking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to urgently probe the agency in order to tame the tide before it gets worst.

Copies of the acknowledged petition addressed to the Chairman of the ICPC confirmed receipt of petitions, urging the anti-corruption agency to investigate and prosecute the JAMB registrar professor Ishaq Oloyede over “extreme fraud, corruption, and desecration of the code of conduct of public office”.

One of the petitions sighted by CAPITAL POST, and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, alleged that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into with private entities in the name of Computer Based Test (CBT) has led to the misappropriation of N11 billion.

The petition specifically called on the ICPC to investigate Prof Ishaq Oloyede and his best friend Mr Mufutau A. Bello the self-acclaimed DFA, in violation of Section 12 &19 of the corrupt practices and other related offenses act of 2000 and punishable under the relevant section.

The petition reads in part, “That the anti-corruption body investigate cases of infractions perpetrated by Mr Mufutau A Bello which is against the Public Procurement Act (PPA), 2007, with the hope of punishing any civil servant found to have colluded with contractors to subvert the rules of the Act.

“That Prof Ishaq Oloyede and Mr Mufutau A. Bello having contravened the Financial Act, Corrupt practices and other related offenses at section 105 of criminal code, to this end we request an immediate investigation into the rot in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which is a grave to the nation’s economy at time of scarier resources”.

The petition alleged that the Consultant turned DFA has taken over the job of the Director Procurement or Secretary Parastatals Tender Board by signing award letters of Contract given out by JAMB.

According to the petition, the Registrar unilaterally transferred the erstwhile Director of Finance and Account, (DFA) and bypassed the Governing board to get approval from the Honorable Minister of Education to appoint Mufutau A Bello as a consultant then later converted him as the new Director of Finance and Accounts which contravene the Public Service Rule.

Also, sources within the ICPC told journalists that careful investigation has unraveled massive corruption and misappropriation of public funds by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

A petition added that “this anomaly turns out to be the bedrock of massive corruption which now reigns Supreme in JAMB which contravened the Financial Act and Corrupt Practices and other related offenses of section 105 of criminal code.

“It should be noted that this appointed consultant who is now working as DFA of JAMB is a long-time ally/kinsman of the JAMB Registrar and not a staff of JAMB or civil servant in any way.

“This said consultant turned DFA is now a Co-signatory of the JAMB account and does things without checks and balances.

“We are deeply worried about this and accompanied with the fact that the Registrar boasts that he has the full backing of the Honourable Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu.

“Further recall that in 2015 there was a presidential directive that all government payments should be made into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and thereafter Agencies can make payments to whatever bodies in line with their respective budgets and the procurement law.

“But the JAMB Registrar flouted this rule and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with private entities in the name of Computer Based Test (CBT) centers and consultants.

“The salient question needs to be asked to wit, how did he get into the agreement that allowed candidates to make some payment directly to CBT centers rather than the TSA?

“This singular act has automatically violated Government policy on revenue collection. According to the CBN guidelines on the implementation of TSA, government agencies are not to operate any bank account under any guise, outside the purview and oversight of the Treasury.”

“Also, the Guidelines on the Implementation of Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) I e-Collection, issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) on October 15th, 2015, prohibited MDAs from operating any bank account.

It stated, “No MDA is permitted to maintain account for any purpose with commercial banks including transit accounts. Diversion of deposits to any commercial bank account and use of surrogate accounts of any form is strictly prohibited.”

“The deal with CBT Centers also flouts the directive that any agreement above fifty million naira must be approved by the Attorney General of the Federation. Did the AGF grant approval for the said agreement or did the Registrar get the certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement?

“It is indeed shocking to discover after our investigation that many UTME candidates were made to pay the sum of one thousand naira for diesel in the 2022 JAMB Examination. It should be emphasised that this has not only placed untold burdens on the parents/guardians of the candidates but has given a negative impression of President Muhammadu Buhari’s sincere fight against corruption. Again why would candidates pay money directly to private coffers on a matter that is government controlled?

“The JAMB Registrar in his tradition does not advertise Contracts for public competition but discreetly Award all Contracts to his allies which he usually paraded as Consultant including Jobs that are meant to be done by the staff of JAMB, using Mr Damilola Bamiro as his lead fronts which contradicts The Public Procurement of 2007 (as Amended 2016)”.

This Act governs the bidding process for public procurement in Nigeria to enhance and ultimately ensure the entrenchment of diversity, inclusiveness, fairness, and equality in wealth creation and distribution in the Nigerian economy.

The petitioner also complained that “the Board has been enmeshed in corruption even before the appointment of Oloyede”.

The petition, however, stressed that “the corruption in JAMB is now very monumental and must be halted with immediacy”.

It noted that Oloyede’s appointment and remittances of funds gave hope that he was not going to toe the line of his previous predecessors.

It further alleged that the Award of Contract for the supply of office stationeries worth (N289,859,700.00) VAT inclusive; to International Control System on 14th June and May 14, 2021, which worth was over (N18,984, 420.84) was signed by One Mufutau A Bello, a self-appointed DFA for JAMB who now signs contract award letters instead of director of procurement.

The group which expressed its displeasure over the consistent breach of governmental Regulation by the board of JAMB led by Prof Oloyede, equally condemned the reckless and fraudulent spending of public funds, abuse of privilege, and diversion of the people’s common patrimony for personal enrichment.

“It’s highly pitiable and worrisome to note that Prof Ishaq Oloyede in connivance with Mufutau A. Bello continues to expend Government resources without due processes and has total disregard to financial rules stipulated by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to guide her financial operations.

“Prof Oloyede’s act and mismanagement is not only an aberration but also constitute great danger capable of stirring doubt as to if the current administration is really serious in the fight against corruption and with the Hon. Minister of Education Adamu Adamu looking the other way round instead of confronting the fast-growing corruption under his watch,” the petitioner alleged.

Meanwhile, effort to speak with JAMB’s head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin did yield result as he never picked calls put to him, or react to text messages.