The World Bank Group has announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigeria-based companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their chief executive, Norman Bwuruk Didam.
The debarment follows allegations of fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the execution of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
The project was designed to provide targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households through Nigeria’s expanded social safety net system.
However, according to the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, the companies and their CEO engaged in misconduct during the 2018 procurement process and subsequent contract execution.
In a statement, the World Bank revealed that Viva Atlantic, Technology House, and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bid documents and obtained confidential tender information from public officials.
These actions were classified as fraudulent and collusive practices.
Further allegations included Viva Atlantic and Didam falsifying the company’s experience, submitting counterfeit manufacturer’s authorization letters, and offering bribes to public officials involved in the project.
These actions were deemed fraudulent and corrupt practices under the World Bank’s guidelines.
The debarment precludes the companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the next 30 months.
As part of their settlement agreements, the parties have acknowledged culpability and committed to specific integrity compliance measures as a condition for release from debarment.
Among the measures, Didam is required to complete individual corporate ethics training while the two companies must strengthen their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programs aligned with the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Investors King gathered the companies have also pledged to fully cooperate with the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency throughout the debarment period.
The World Bank noted that the reduced debarment period was due to their cooperation during the investigation, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restraint from participating in Bank Group tenders.
The sanctions imposed on Didam, Viva Atlantic, and Technology House are eligible for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.