1st August, 2013
Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, on Thursday arraigned Mr. David Iornem before a Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged operation of an illegal university.
According to the three count charge, Iornem was accused to have fraudulently collected $17,300 from three different persons to secure admission into the University.
Some of those who fell victim to the suspect were the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Akinkiotu Albert Oluwatoyin and Jamilu Rabiu Sani.
He pleaded not guilty to the three counts when they were read to him in the court.
Justice A. R Mohammed granted the suspect bail following the submission made by ICPC’s lawyer, who averred that the commission is not in the habit of opposing bail in a matter like that.
David Iornem was admitted 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.
The court further added that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and drop his recent passport at the court registry.
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.
His trial is slated to commence on 19th September.