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Two Nigerian Companies Sanctioned for Fraudulent Practices by World Bank

The World Bank Group announced a 30-month debarment for the two Nigerian companies
The World Bank’s statement detailed the specific violations committed by Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and their CEO, Mr. Norman Didam
The debarments qualify for cross-debarment

The World Bank Group has announced a 30-month debarment for two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Didam.

It was gathered that this decision comes in response to fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices related to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria, which aimed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households.

According to a statement released on Monday, unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and contract process compromised the project’s integrity.

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’s statement detailed the specific violations committed by Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and their CEO, Mr. Norman Didam.

According to the bank, these entities misrepresented conflicts of interest in their bids and gained unauthorized access to confidential tender information from public officials.

Such actions were classified as fraudulent and collusive practices under the World Bank’s Anti-corruption Framework.

Moreover, Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam were found to have falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fraudulent manufacturer authorization letters, and provided inducements to project officials, which were considered corrupt practices.

These violations not only tainted the integrity of the bidding process but also undermined the social safety net initiative’s core objective to support Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

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.”

The debarment period will see the two companies and Didam barred from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations.

However, as part of their settlement agreements, the parties have admitted responsibility and agreed to meet specified conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.

These conditions stipulate that Didam must complete individual ethics training, while the companies are required to bolster their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programs following the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

The reduced debarment periods were granted in light of the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restrictions on bidding for contracts, and the time that has elapsed since the violations occurred.

It’s worth noting that these debarments qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, signed in April 2010.

It also stated, “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 reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in development projects, stressing that the sanctions demonstrate its zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

It said the implicated parties must fulfil the stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for participation in future Bank-funded initiatives.

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