World Bank Debars Two Nigerian Companies\CEO For Fraudulent Practices

The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam.

This decision follows findings of fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the World Bank, the violations involved misrepresentation of conflicts of interest, falsification of records, and offering inducements to public officials. These breaches were uncovered during investigations into procurement and contract processes dating back to 2018.

The NSSNP, a project aimed at improving Nigeria’s social safety net systems through financial transfers to vulnerable households, became tainted by these unethical practices. Both Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam were found guilty of submitting forged documents, including falsified manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and improperly accessing confidential tender information.

The debarment prohibits the two companies and Mr. Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for 30 months. As part of the settlement, the implicated parties acknowledged their misconduct and agreed to specific integrity compliance conditions, including corporate ethics training for Mr. Didam and reforms to the companies’ internal compliance policies.

In addition, the World Bank granted reduced debarment periods due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations and voluntary corrective actions, such as self-imposed restrictions from participating in Bank-financed tenders.

Under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, the sanctions extend to other multilateral development banks, ensuring the exclusion of Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam from projects funded by international financial institutions.

The World Bank emphasised its commitment to safeguarding development funds and maintaining integrity in its projects. These debarments serve as a warning against corruption in initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation and economic growth.

During the debarment period, the affected parties must comply with the stipulated conditions to regain eligibility for World Bank-funded opportunities, reinforcing the institution’s zero-tolerance stance on unethical practices.