FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V. DR. ANGELA UWAKWEM & 2 ORS

ABUBAKAR SADIQ UMAR, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division (lower court), delivered on 21 December 2020 (“the judgment”). By the said judgment, the lower court affirmed the ruling of the High Court of Imo State (“trial court”) and dismissed the appellant’s appeal. It is against the decision of the courts below that the appellant has further appealed to this court.

Brief Facts

The 1st respondent was a public officer and the Medical Director of Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Imo State at all material times. The 2nd and 3rd respondents are non -public officers.The 2nd respondent is the Managing Director of the 3rd respondent.

The respondents were all jointly charged at the trial court with an 1st count charge contained in an Information dated 19 September2016 (“the Information”) bordering on conspiracy and inflating prices for the purchase of some medical equipment contrary to sections 26(1) and 22 of …