The World Bank Group has announced a 30-month debarment of two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, as well as their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Norman Didam, due to fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices associated with the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, the World Bank explained that the project, which was intended to provide financial support to poor and vulnerable households, was compromised by unethical activities during a 2018 procurement process and the subsequent contract award.
The statement read, “The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigeria-based companies—Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited—and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam. The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
The World Bank revealed that Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam falsely disclosed a conflict of interest in their bids and gained access to confidential tender information from public officials. These actions were classified as fraudulent and collusive practices under the Bank’s Anti-corruption Framework.
Additionally, the World Bank highlighted that Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam falsified the company’s experience records, submitted forged manufacturer’s authorization letters, and offered bribes to project officials, which were deemed corrupt practices. These violations, according to the Bank, undermined the integrity of the social safety net initiative designed to assist Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities.
The statement noted, “According to the facts of the case and the general principles of the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, in connection with a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in the companies’ Letter of Bids and received confidential tender information from public officials, which constituted fraudulent and collusive practices, respectively. Further, Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam misrepresented Viva Atlantic Limited’s experience and submitted falsified manufacturer’s authorization letters, as well as offered and provided things of value to project public officials. These actions were fraudulent and corrupt practices, respectively.”
As a result of the debarment, both companies and Mr. Didam are prohibited from participating in World Bank-funded projects and operations for the duration of the 30-month period.
Under the terms of their settlement agreements, the involved parties acknowledged their wrongdoing and agreed to adhere to certain conditions, including enhanced compliance measures. These measures require Mr. Didam to undergo individual ethics training, while the companies must improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training in alignment with the Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The World Bank noted that the reduced debarment periods were granted in recognition of the parties’ cooperation during the investigation, their voluntary corrective actions, their self-imposed restraint from bidding for contracts, and the passage of time since the violations.
The statement further added, “The companies also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency. The settlement agreements feature reduced debarment periods due to the companies’ and Mr Didam’s cooperation with the Bank Group’s investigation, voluntary corrective actions, voluntary restraint from participating in Bank Group tenders, and the passage of time.”
The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in its development projects, emphasizing that the sanctions reflect its zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The Bank also stated that the parties involved must fulfill the specified conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future participation in World Bank-funded projects.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
