‘Alleged N6b fraud in NJI committed before judge’s tenure’

The alleged N6billion fraud in the National Judicial Institute (NJI) was committed before its Administrator, Justice Umaru Eri (rtd) came into office, the Institute has said.

The fraud is being probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The NJI made the clarification in a statement in Abuja by its Head of Information, Mr. Madu Emezie.

Emezie said: “ The N6billion fraud investigation is the figment of the imagination of the former secretary of the institute, Mrs. Bolatito Ajibade, the alleged petitioner, whose appointment was terminated along with 34 others as a result of their involvement in the alleged graft matter.

“The contract for the development of the NJI was awarded by the Federal Tenders Board in 2002, when the current administrator was still the Chief Judge of Kogi State. The contract’s worth was N4.6billion and certificates of payment made by the NJI were awarded by the Federal Judicial due process office.

“The contract was awarded before the constitution of the current management of the institute. There was already a case of financial misconduct levelled against the institute before the coming of Justice Eri. This was the reason Eri, a retired Chief Judge, was appointed to come to reform and re-position the outfit.

“The Justice Eri – led management caused the allegation against the former management to be investigated. The result was the termination of the appointment of some culpable staff.

“However, a few of them remained in NJI, until further investigations revealed their identities.

“Those identified also had their appointments terminated. These are the people, led by the former secretary, Mrs. Bolatito AJibade, who are now working hard to discredit the institute,” he revealed.

Emezie queried ICPC’s probe of alleged N6billion fraud “ when only N4.6billion was approved.”

“And mind you, if N6billion was squandered, it means the worth of the contract should have been at least three times that amount for you to be able to steal so much,” he added.

Emezie also clarified  that the  Administrator “never sponsored any of his children abroad with NJI’s funds.

He said: “Only two people had ever been sponsored abroad by NJI, and they were not Justice Eri’s children. They were the secretary, Body of Benchers, who was sent on a workshop to London in 2008 and the then president of Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, CMJA, who attended a conference of the CMJA in Turks and Calicos. These were not Justice Eri’s children.

“In fact, Justice Eri caused a revenue account to be opened, which had two accounts: Contractor Registration Fees and the NJI workshop fees. These records and cash books and others are available for any one to cross-check,” he said.