The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) tribunal has suspended Mr Mathew Ajibade from engineering practice for 12 months over professional misconduct.
Ajibade, among other charges, was said to have sold laterite worth N800, 000 on July 5, at the Uyo Silo Complex belonging to his employers, Vees and Laws Ltd. without authorisation and approval.
The offence according to the tribunal, contravenes provision of Rule 2.5(d) (e) and (f) of the Engineering Code of Conduct, revised edition 2017.
Ruling on the case, Mr Ali Rabiu, President of COREN said the tribunal found Ajibade liable of professional misconduct based on his admittance to have sold the laterite without approval from his employers.
Rabiu said the tribunal relying on the report of its legal assessor, found out that the respondent’s action did not conform to the engineering rules and standard.
“The claim by the respondent that proceeds from the sale of the laterite was used in settling the community is not contemplated under the engineer’s code of conduct and accordingly discountenanced.
“Therefore, we find that the sale of the laterite belonging to Vees and Laws Ltd. was without authorisation and approval, therefore the conduct not in conformity with the engineering rules and standard.
“The respondent reasonably and professionally ought to have known that the said act of discharging his duty to his employer with utmost dishonesty is unprofessional.
“This act is contrary to 2.5(d) (e) and (f) of the engineers code of conduct revised edition 2017 and revised edition 2018 engineers edition amendment act 2018 and punishable under same act,’’ Rabiu said.
Counsel to the respondent, Mr Friday Onojo expressed confidence in the tribunal to deliver justice and noted that he was satisfied with the process.
President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Engineering Registration Amendment Act of 2018, empowering the council to prosecute and discipline members found culpable of engineering infraction.