ICPC Re-Arraigns Professor and Two Institutions for Fraud and Money Laundering
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Professor David Iornem and two institutions on revised charges related to fraudulent admissions and money laundering activities.
Iornem is accused of defrauding Nigerian citizens by offering fake admissions and certificates through Island Open University Inc. and Commonwealth University Inc., both of which are also named in the charges.
Although the trial commenced in 2013, it was rescheduled after Justice A.R. Mohammed was promoted to the Court of Appeal. The case has now been transferred to Justice P.O. Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that during the latest court session, prosecution counsel David Nwaze confirmed the commission’s readiness to continue the trial. He also noted that two witnesses were present and ready to testify.
Bakare explained that during the hearing, Iornem pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges against him, and also denied additional counts 13 and 14 on behalf of Island Open University Inc. and Commonwealth University Inc.
One of the charges, under count one, alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2012, Iornem conspired with Bruce Robert Duncan and others to defraud Nigerians by offering admissions to a non-accredited institution, Commonwealth University Belize, which was falsely portrayed as a legitimate foreign university. This, according to the charge, violated sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
Another charge, count 13, accused Island Open University Inc. of receiving £11,000 between July and December 2012, which was used to purchase property in London, knowing that the funds were linked to fraudulent degree-awarding activities related to the unaccredited Commonwealth University Belize. This charge was brought under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.
Bakare also noted that the defence counsel requested bail for the defendants under the same conditions set by the previous judge, Justice A.R. Mohammed. However, the court revised the bail terms, increasing the bond from N100,000 to N20 million and requiring two sureties, one of whom must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 14. All other original bail conditions remained intact.
In the trial, ICPC’s first witness, Chidi Orji, a staff member of the commission, testified about his involvement in the investigation. Orji explained that he participated in the investigation after a petition was filed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding illegal degree-awarding institutions. He recounted how he, under the alias “Jamilu Rabiu Sani,” pretended to be seeking a degree for a relative, paying $800 in application and good faith fees to the third defendant. This led to a sting operation, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of a staff member from the third defendant institution.
The trial is ongoing, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
