The Calabar, Cross Rivers State division of Court of Appeal Monday convicted and sentenced Engineer Dasel Nanjwan, an employee of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to three years imprisonment.
In a unanimous decision of the three-man panel,
Engineer Nanjwan was convicted for holding a private interest in a Three Hundred and Forty-Two Million Naira (N342 Million) only contract regarding the replacement of warehouses and factories at the Calabar Free Trade Zone.
Engineer Nanjwan was a member of the technical committee on the side of the Federal Government in negotiation with General Electric (GE) Africa, on investments in the Calabar Free Trade Zone as well as the owner and sole signatory to the account of Kwop-ri Services, the Company that won the contract.
The defendant was initially arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before a Calabar High Court presided over by Justice Emily Ibok on a five-count charge which includes knowingly holding a private interest in a Three Hundred and Forty-Two Million Naira (N342 Million) only contract connected with an office which he is employed, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
In a judgement delivered at the High Court in Calabar by Justice Emily Ibok on19th May 2019, the defendant was discharged and acquitted of all charges.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, ICPC filed an appeal at the Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgement set aside the decision of the lower court and sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment
