From Victor Osula, Abuja
The World Bank has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian firms, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, alongside their Managing Director and CEO, Norman Bwuruk Didam, over allegations of fraud, collusion, and corruption linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
Stephanie A. Crockett of World Bank, said the violationsincluded misrepresentation of conflict of interest, falsification of documents, and offering bribes to public officials.
The statement read, “The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria, which aimed to provide targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households under Nigeria’s expanded social safety nets system.”
The World Bank noted that in a 2018 procurement process and subsequent contract, the companies and Mr. Didam engaged in actions that violated the institution’s anti-corruption framework.
“Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their Letter of Bids and obtained confidential tender information from public officials, constituting fraudulent and collusive practices.
“ Furthermore, Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam submitted falsified manufacturer’s authorization letters and misrepresented the company’s experience, while offering bribes to public officials,” the statement added.
The debarment prevents the firms and their CEO from participating in projects financed by the World Bank Group.
As part of their settlement agreements, the companies and Mr. Didam admitted to the violations and committed to implementing specific integrity compliance measures.
The terms include corporate ethics training, enhanced compliance policies, and adherence to the Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The bank acknowledged the reduced debarment period, citing the companies’ cooperation with investigations, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restraint from participating in future tenders as contributing factors.
“These debarments qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions signed on April 9, 2010,” the statement concluded.
