AGBO JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): By an instrument dated 10 September 2001, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purporting to be acting pursuant to the powers vested in him by the provisions of the Tribunal of Inquiry Act, setup a Tribunal of Inquiry for the Investigation of Nigerdock Nigeria Ltd. He appointed Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie as Chairman. The tribunal had the following terms of reference as set out in the instrument:
“The Tribunal of Inquiry shall:
(a) Investigate the financial management and transactions of the Nigerdock Nigeria Limited from its inception to 30 September 2000.
(b) Investigate the operations of the “Parallel Accounts Unit” in the office of the Managing Director of the Company in order to:
a. determine to what extent the unit complied with laid down accounting principles and practice;
b. determine the level and extent of malpractices committed in the unit.
(c) Examine whether or not contract awards were made in accordance with laid do…