The Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) has distanced itself from the case of alleged criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence brought against Segun Ogunyannwo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stating that it was not the complainant and that the matter reached the Commission through a petition by law school students.
In a statement signed by its Vice President (Finance), Amb. V.A.A.A. Ojaide, the Institute said it wished its members and the general public to understand its position and what it described as the truth regarding the wanted notice.
The Institute opened its account by disclaiming any role in bringing the matter before the Commission. “The case with the EFCC was never initiated by the Institute,” the statement read.
According to the body, its records show that Ogunyannwo “had collected over N390,000,000 from over 3,000 law school students in 2023 and 2024 using the name of ICMC and never told ICMC.”
The Institute alleged that the dispute came to light at the point of induction. “When it was time to induct the students, he wanted to secretly do a virtual induction of the students into MTI and told the students that ICMC was not legal, and a lot of other half truths he told about ICMC,” the statement said.
It added that the students themselves detected the inconsistency. “The students noticed the discrepancy and some reached out to ICMC. Some then wrote a petition against ICMC and Segun Ogunyannwo for not wanting to induct them into ICMC after collecting their money.”
The Institute said it was only then that it became aware of the use of its name. “It was after the problem started that ICMC knew that Segun Ogunyannwo was secretly using the name of ICMC to still advertise and train people.”
The statement said the Institute had earlier sought an account of the law school training. “Before the problem came up, ICMC had written a series of letters to Segun to ask of the training in the law school and for him to account. He bluntly refused and said he was not training for ICMC anymore and was only training as MTI. So ICMC wished him well and left him.”
Following the students’ petition, the Institute said it reopened contact. “After the petition of the students, ICMC reached out to Segun. At this time, he was in a very tight spot. He agreed and pleaded to be forgiven. He was told to remit the ICMC commission to the Institute so ICMC can then induct the students.”
It said it then committed its own funds. “To save Segun from the horrible situation, ICMC brought out its N20,000,000 to induct over 1,500 law school students, with the understanding with Segun that he will remit the ICMC induction fees he collected from the students and the ICMC training commission.”
The Institute said it also published a disclaimer at that stage “so he will no longer use ICMC in collecting monies from innocent students.”
According to the statement, the undertaking was not honoured. “After the induction, to save Segun from the problem he had caused, he refused to remit the agreed induction fees. He started writing half truths about the Institute and embarked on a false campaign to destroy the Institute.”
The Institute further alleged that he “sponsored one of the inducted law school students to file a petition against the Institute in court,” adding that it declined to respond publicly. “ICMC never replied his falsehood. Never.”
The Institute said a second wave of complaints emerged afterwards. “Thinking we have passed the mess he created, another over 1,000 law school students came up with the same story. We found it to be true.”
The Institute said a second wave of complaints emerged afterwards. “Thinking we have passed the mess he created, another over 1,000 law school students came up with the same story. We found it to be true.”
It said a mediation process was convened. “A mediation was set up for months to reconcile the issues. He was supposed to now remit both the old and the new monies. The law school students were part of the mediation. They wanted closure. It was either they get back their monies or ICMC inducts them.”
The Institute said it made its position conditional. “ICMC resolved not to induct this new set till Segun remits the monies. He was given a huge concession. Segun unceremoniously left the mediation process. He would neither refund the students nor remit to ICMC.”
It was at that point, the Institute said, that the students took the matter to law enforcement. “These law school students, after months of aborted mediation by Segun Ogunyannwo, then petitioned both the police and the EFCC. ICMC was invited and ICMC went to answer.”
On the police leg of the matter, the statement said: “The police investigated and strongly found him wanting and strongly advised that he remits ICMC’s monies so ICMC can induct the students. ICMC called for a reconciliation and mediation with him. Segun refused to meet the ICMC representatives. He was running from the truth.”
On the Commission, it said: “The petition by the law school students to the EFCC made the EFCC to invite ICMC, and ICMC honoured the invite and gave its position. ICMC only got to know now that he has been running from going to answer the EFCC.”