Section 23: Penalties for unprofessional conduct

(1) Where-
(a) a person registered under this Act is convicted by any court or tribunal in Nigeria or elsewhere having power to award punishment for an offence (whether or not an offence punishable with imprisonment) which in the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee is incompatible with the status of such professional; or
(b) a registered person is adjudged by the Disciplinary Committee to be guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect; or
(c) the Disciplinary Committee is satisfied that the name of any person has been fraudulently registered,
the Disciplinary Committee may give a direction under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Where any of the conditions stipulated in subsection (1) of this section occurs, the Disciplinary Committee may give a direction under this subsection-
(a) ordering the Registrar to strike the person's name off the relevant part of the register;
(b) suspending that person from practice for such period as may be specified in the direction;
(c) reprimanding the person;
(d) ordering the person to pay to the Board any costs of and incidental to the proceedings incurred by the Board; or
(e) cautioning him and binding him over for a period not exceeding one year on one or more conditions as to his conduct during that period,
and any such direction may, where appropriate, include provision requiring the refund of moneys paid or the handing over of documents or any other thing as the case may require.
(3) In any inquiry under this section, any finding of fact which is shown to have been made in-
(a) any criminal proceedings in a court in Nigeria;
(b) any civil proceedings in a court in Nigeria,
shall be conclusive evidence of the fact found.
(4) If after due inquiry the Disciplinary Committee is satisfied that during the period of binding over under paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of this section a person has not complied with the conditions imposed thereunder, the Disciplinary Committee may, if it thinks fit, impose anyone or more of the penalties mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of that subsection.
(5) A certificate under the hand of the chairman that any costs have been ordered to be paid by a person under this section shall be conclusive evidence thereof.