The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has suspended for one year the practice licence of Mr Noble Egharevba, for committing gross professional misconduct.
COREN Disciplinary Tribunal on Monday, found Egharevba guilty of operating an engineering consultant firm using the registration number of a registered engineering firm.
The judgment was delivered by a nine-member panel headed by the tribunal chairman, Mr Kashim Ali.
The panel said the respondent used another firm’s registration number to secure several contracts from Edo state government under the name NOBA Associates Limited, Benin in 2012.
It said Egharevba also cited the same registration number in his application submitted to COREN for the registration of NOBA Associates Limited as an Engineering Consultant Firm.
The panel held that the respondent was charged before the tribunal under Rule 5 sub-section 7 of the Engineers Code of Conduct of 2015.
It also held that Egharevba was the right person to be tried and not NOBA Associates because he (Egharevba) was the one that signed the application for registration before COREN.
The tribunal in arriving at its judgment said the complainant had proved beyond every reasonable doubt that the respondent committed the offence of professional misconduct as charged before it.
Reading the judgment, Ali said that the tribunal after considering all the evidence by witnesses and documents tendered came to the conclusion that Egharevba was guilty of breaching the Engineers Code of Conduct.
“We forthwith suspend Mr Noble Egharevba of NOBA Associates Limited, Benin City from applying to register NOBA Associates Limited as an Engineering Consulting Firm.
“His licence to practice as an engineer is forthwith suspended for One (1) Calendar Year for committing an infamous conduct and gross negligence.
“He may, however, after serving his one year suspension apply afresh to the Council for reinstatement.
“This Direction is to be published in the official gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the tribunal ruled.