ICPC Arraigns Operator of Illegal University

2. (1)The Independent Corrupt Practices and 0ther Related Offenses Commission( ICPC) on Thursday arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja one David Iornem for allegedly operating an illegal University in Abuja.

The anti graft agency had slammed a three count charge on the accused bothering on fraudulent collection of money amounting to 17,300 United State Dollars from three different people to secure the admission into the University.

Those who fell victim of the accused persons are the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin,Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Akinkuotu Albert Oluwatoyin and Jamilu Rabiu Sani.

The accused person however, pleaded not guilty to the three count charge when it was read to him.

Prosecution counsel,Ebenezer Shogunle told the court that the Commission was ready to bring its witnesses to prove its case against the accused.

He therefore asked for a short adjournment.
Counsel to the accused person, J.I Abagu brought an application praying the court to admit the accused person to bail.

The Prosecution did not oppose the application for bail but however prayed the court to make the bail in a such a way that will make the accused person to be available to stand his trial.

Ruling on the bail application, the trial judge,Justice A.R Mohammed granted the application since the prosecution did not object to it.

He admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum who must be a civil servant in the employment of the Federal Government or any of its agencies.

He added that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and drop his recent passport with the court registry.
Justice Mohammed however held that the accused person be remanded in Kuje Prison pending when he satisfy his bail condition.
He adjourned the case to September 19 for trial.

The three count charge reads:
*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 4th  day of July, 2012 at Abuja,  with intention to defraud, attempted to obtain the total sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from one Professor Is-haq Oloyede by falsely representing yourself to be “Professor David Iornem” and solicited payment of the said sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from Professor Is-haq Oloyede for the award of an academic doctorate degree of COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University, Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 21st  day of January, 2013 at Abuja, with intention to defraud, obtained the sum of $5,000 (Five thousand United States Dollars) from one Akinkiotu Albert Oluwatoyin by falsely representing yourself to be ‘Professor David Iornem’ and pretending to offer admission to the said Akinkuotu Albert Oluwatoyin to pursue a  degree of doctor of philosophy in management of the COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.

*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 23th May, 2013 at Abuja, received the sum of $800 (Eight hundred Dollars) from one Jamilu Rabiu Sani as application form fee and good faith deposit for admission into COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.