The World Bank 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, Norman Didam over alleged corrupt practices.
The 30-month debarment bars Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam from participating in World Bank Group-financed projects and operations.
A statement by the Washington-based bank said the sanction follows findings of fraudulent, collusive and corrupt practices connected to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.
The statement reads: “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 alleged fraudulent, collusive and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
The NSSNP was established to enhance Nigeria’s social safety net systems by providing targeted financial transfers to poor and vulnerable households.
However, the bank said investigations revealed serious breaches of its Anti-Corruption Framework in the 2018 procurement and subsequent contract processes involving Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam.
According to the World Bank, the companies and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their Letter of Bids and improperly accessed confidential tender information from public officials, constituting fraudulent and collusive practices.
Also, Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam were said to have falsified the company’s experience records and submitted forged manufacturer’s authorisation letters. They also provided inducements to public officials involved in the project, which qualified as corrupt practices.
The bank said these violations directly contravened the principles outlined in the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, prompting the sanctions.
Credit: channelstv.com
