World Bank Bans Two Nigerian Firms, CEO for Fraudulent Practices
The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, alongside their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Norman Bwuruk Didam.
The sanctions follow revelations of fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt activities connected to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Washington-based institution highlighted that these violations were uncovered during investigations into the 2018 procurement and subsequent contract processes involving the NSSNP, a programme designed to strengthen Nigeria’s social safety net systems and provide financial assistance to impoverished and vulnerable households.
According to the World Bank, Mr Didam and the companies engaged in serious breaches of its Anti-corruption Framework.
These included misrepresenting conflicts of interest in their bid documents, improperly accessing confidential tender information through public officials, falsifying company experience records, and submitting forged manufacturer authorisation letters.
Additionally, they were found guilty of offering inducements to public officials, acts categorised as corrupt practices.
The statement read: “Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr Norman Bwuruk Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their 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, submitted falsified manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and offered inducements to project public officials.”
The debarment prohibits the implicated companies and their CEO from participating in World Bank Group-financed projects for 30 months.
As part of settlement agreements, the parties acknowledged their culpability and agreed to implement strict integrity compliance measures to be eligible for future opportunities.
Key conditions include:
Ethics Training: Mr Didam is required to undergo corporate ethics training.
Policy Overhaul: Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited must reform their internal integrity compliance policies and conduct ethics training programmes in line with the World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Cooperation Commitments: The companies pledged to cooperate with the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency.
The sanctions were mitigated by the parties’ voluntary corrective actions, cooperation during investigations, and self-imposed restrictions on participating in tenders.
Under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, the sanctions extend beyond the World Bank, as other multilateral development banks are required to reciprocally enforce them.
This ensures that the companies and Mr Didam are excluded from participating in projects financed by major international financial institutions.
The World Bank reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward corruption in development initiatives, emphasising the importance of maintaining the integrity of funds intended for poverty alleviation and economic growth.
The institution stressed that the debarment serves as a stern reminder to all stakeholders involved in Bank-funded projects.
For the duration of the debarment period, the sanctioned parties must fully comply with the outlined conditions to regain eligibility for World Bank-funded opportunities.
