The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, as well as their CEO, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.
This project was designed to provide targeted financial assistance to vulnerable households. However, unethical practices during the 2018 procurement and contract processes undermined its integrity, the World Bank disclosed in a statement on Monday.
Fraudulent Practices Identified
The World Bank detailed how Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam engaged in various unethical actions, including:
• Misrepresenting a conflict of interest in their bids.
• Accessing confidential tender information from public officials, which constituted fraudulent and collusive practices.
• Falsifying experience records and submitting fake manufacturer authorization letters.
• Offering inducements to project officials, classified as corrupt practices.
These actions breached the bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework, which aims to ensure transparency and accountability in development projects.
Debarment Details and Penalties
The 30-month debarment bars the companies and their CEO from participating in any World Bank-funded projects. The sanctions also qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.
As part of the settlement agreements, the sanctioned parties admitted their culpability and agreed to specific corrective measures, including:
• Enhanced compliance policies for the companies.
• Implementation of corporate ethics training programmes.
• Ethics training for Mr. Didam to improve individual accountability.
The World Bank noted that the debarment periods were reduced due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restrictions on bidding, and the passage of time since the infractions.
World Bank’s Commitment to Accountability
The World Bank emphasized its zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, particularly in projects designed to benefit vulnerable populations. It also reiterated the importance of transparency in development initiatives and urged all parties involved in its projects to uphold the highest ethical standards.
“The sanctions demonstrate our commitment to protecting the integrity of development projects and ensuring they achieve their intended goals,” the statement read.
Key Takeaways
This case serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust oversight and integrity in development projects, particularly those aimed at supporting vulnerable communities. The settlement underscores the World Bank’s ongoing efforts to uphold accountability and combat corruption in global initiatives.
