The World Bank Group has issued a 30-month ban on two Nigerian firms, namely Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Norman Bwuruk Didam.
According to a press release from the Washington-based institution on Monday, the penalty results from findings related to fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt activities connected to Nigeria’s National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP).
Investigations uncovered serious violations of the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework during the 2018 procurement and subsequent contracting procedures involving Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam.
“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 statement read.
The World Bank reported that the companies and Didam falsely declared a conflict of interest in their Letter of Bids and inappropriately obtained confidential tender information from public officials, which constitutes fraudulent and collusive actions.
Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam also fabricated the company’s records and presented counterfeit manufacturer’s authorisation letters. They also offered bribes to public officials involved in the project, qualifying as corrupt activities.
These infractions directly violated the principles outlined in the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, leading to the imposition of sanctions.
The 30-month debarment prohibits Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam from engaging in projects and operations financed by the World Bank Group.
As part of settlement agreements with the World Bank, all three parties admitted their wrongdoing and agreed to rigorous integrity compliance conditions as a prerequisite for their release from debarment.
The sanctions are eligible for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions signed in April 2010.
This agreement allows for the reciprocal application of debarment decisions, ensuring that the companies and Didam will be barred from projects financed by other significant international financial institutions.
