MULTI-MILLION NAIRA FRAUD: Investigate, Sack JAMB Boss Immediately CSO Tells Education Minister

Agency Report

A civil society organisation under the umbrella of Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI) has raised the alarm over what it described as the monumental fraud running into billions of Naira ongoing at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.

The group in a petition signed by its Director of Compliance, Ibrahim Muhamad Auwal Esq unequivocally demanded the immediate investigation, prosecute and disengagement of JAMB boss, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and this accomplices in the fraud.
The petitioners are asking the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to urgently probe the agency in order to tame the ugly tide.

Copy of the acknowledged petition addressed to the Education Mallam dated August 23, 2022 as sighted by TrackNews Nigeria confirmed its receipt, urging the to investigate and prosecute the JAMB registrar professor Ishaq Oloyede over “extreme fraud, corruption, and desecration of the code of conduct of public office”.

The petition also fingered Mr. Mufutau Alabi Bello who presently serves as Director of Finance & Accounts (DFA) of JAMB as being in connivance with his best friend and kinsman, Prof. Oloyede engaged in corrupt practices at the agency.

According to the petition, Prof. Oloyede serially violated the Treasury Single Account (TSA) guidelines by making third party payments through individual accounts. In fact, within the last five years, half a billion Naira has been moved in the name of advertisement and publicity alone through the account of JAMB spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

At another level, the petition accused the JAMB boss of also violating the Public Procurement Act in the form of direct purchase of vehicles, direct credit of individual account with N2.2 million for IT infrastructure, diversion of public funds into private pockets and sundry others.

It further highlighted illegal recruitment exercise in 2018 and 2021, deliberate removal of experienced hands in the finance department, inflation of funds in the execution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with over N59million in just 3 projects, under disclosure of revenues accruing to JAMB including the utilization of retained 20 percent operating surplus.

The petition insisted that the “choice of Professor Is-haq Oloyede as Registrar of JAMB was wrong in the first place because he is a conventional Yoruba man who cannot be trusted. Almighty Allah saved TETFUND that you did not send Professor Is-haq Oloyede there.

“By now, the gains recorded by past administrators of the Fund would have been completely eroded due to the penchant Professor Is-haq Oloyede has for looting, underhand activities and outright conversion of public funds to private use. We are sure that unless a fast decision is taken to INVESTIGATE AND SACK PROFESSOR IS-HAQ OLOYEDE AS REGISTRAR OF JAMB, you will be shocked at the extent to which the man can go to tarnish your image.

The petitioner prayed the Minister “to get rid of Professor Is-haq Oloyede from JAMB as fast as possible because of his desperation to destroy you and the entire educational sector.

“We have decided to show you immense respect by writing this letter believing that the values you hold dear as a Senior Comrade, Anti-Corruption Crusader and Public Commentator are still intact. TAKE NOTICE however that if AFTER ONE WEEK from the date hereof, you fail or neglect to RECOMMEND THE SACK OF PROFESSOR IS-HAQ OLOYEDE we will be compelled to channel our grievances directly to Mr. President.”