ICPC Re-Arraigns Professor and Two Firms Over Certificate Racketeering and Money Laundering

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Professor David Iornem alongside two organizations on charges of certificate racketeering and money laundering.

This re-arraignment follows new charges against Iornem and the institutions, Island Open University Inc. and Commonwealth University Inc., for allegedly defrauding Nigerians through fraudulent admissions and certificates. The case, which initially began in 2013, was postponed following the elevation of Justice A.R. Mohammed to the Court of Appeal. It has now been reassigned to Justice P.O. Lifu at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare confirmed the prosecution’s readiness to proceed with the case. During the recent court hearing, two witnesses were present and prepared to testify. Iornem pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts against him, along with two additional counts for the other defendants.

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One of the amended charges alleges that between January and December 2012, Iornem and his accomplices defrauded individuals by advertising fraudulent admissions to Commonwealth University Belize, falsely claiming it was a legitimate foreign institution. The university, however, was not accredited or authorized to operate in Belize, violating laws related to advance fee fraud.

In response to the re-arraignment, the defense counsel requested the same bail terms previously set, but the court imposed stricter conditions. The bail bond was raised from ₦100,000 to ₦20 million, and the number of sureties required increased to two, with one needing to be a civil servant of no less than Level 14.

During the trial, ICPC investigator Mr. Chidi Orji testified that he was part of the team that investigated a petition from the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding illegal degree-awarding institutions. Orji recounted his role as an undercover agent, where he posed as a prospective student and paid a sum of $800 to the third defendant as part of the application process.

The trial is set to continue on March 4, 2025.