Posted by By Hilda Esin on
The Disciplinary Tribune of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has called erring accountants in the institution to discipline.
The Disciplinary Tribune of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has called erring accountants in the institution to discipline.
Following the trial, five cases were presented before the President of the Institution, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi who led the tribunal at the Institute Secretariat, Victoria Island, Lagos, they are those involving Easther Babatunde and ORS, Olufemi Jariyesimi, Israel Akinadewo, Ayodele Ilori, Paul Omofu, Isoken Sonubi and Ganiyu Ligali.
In the tribunal, persecution counsel told Mr. Ganiyu Ligali that he was charged for professional misconduct. He was alleged to have forged a letter of reference to his employers, the Nigerian University
Commission (NUC) and was found guilty of the charge by the tribunal which sat on his case earlier. He was subsequently suspended by the tribunal from the institute for two years as a member and was requested to submit his practicing certificate to the secretariat which he did not do. Instead, he paraded himself as a bonafide member of the institution while under suspension.
The tribunal turned down his request to be re-admitted into the institute and ruled that he observes the earlier ruling by the tribunal before he will be considered for re-admission into the membership status of the institute.
Femi Jariyemisi was alleged to have in May 1994 in Lagos, prepared and audited the accounts of three companies using the name of Olufunmi Nimiwo & Co for his personal benefit. This he did, while he was alleged to be in full employment as a partner with Ayorinde
Thomas & Co, Chartered Accountants. An act, which the tribunal says violates ICAN's code of professional conduct and is punishable under section 12, sub-section 1 of ICAN ACT 185 of 1990.
Israel Akinadewo was alleged to have in 1998 prepared and audited accounts of four companies without a practicing licence from the institute.
However, Esther Babatunde who was absent at the hearing, was alleged to have aided and consented to Olufemi Jariyesimi using her firms name to prepare audited accounts of three companies, when at that material time the said Olufemi Jariyesimi was to her knowledge, in full employment with another firm, Ayorinde Thomas & Co, Chartered Accountants.
Mr. Jayesimi upon cross-examination told the tribunal that the agreement between him and Ayorinde Thomas & Co does not forbid him from conducting other business with any other firm. He said all the business he transacted with Esther were done together and was surprised that Esther reported the case to the institute, but the persecution council pleaded for an adjournment to give Esther Babatunde the opportunity to be present at the tribunal to present her defence. The case was adjourned for hearing at a date to be decided by the tribunal.