World Bank debars two Nigerian firms, CEO for 30 months, directs them to clean up their corruption before reengagement
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Two Nigerian firms and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) have been sanctioned with debarment by the World Bank Group for fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices in the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, and their CEO Norman Didam are slammed with debarment for 30 months for their corruption in the project meant to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households.
The World Bank disclosed in a statement that the firms and Didam compromised the project by several unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract process.
“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 statement said.
“The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
The debarments qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, signed in April 2010, the World Bank added.
The bank also said:
- Viva Atlantic, Technology House, and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and accessed confidential tender information from public officials, which constituted fraudulent and collusive practices under World Bank Anti-corruption Framework.
- Viva Atlantic and Didam falsified the company’s experience record, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and provided inducements to project officials, which it classified as corrupt practices, per The PUNCH.
These violations, according to the bank, undermined the integrity of the social safety net initiative designed to benefit Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
“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 prevents the two companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the specified period.
As part of their settlement agreements, the parties acknowledged their culpability and committed to meeting specified conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.
The conditions require Didam to complete individual ethics training, while the companies are mandated to improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programmes in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The World Bank explained that reduced debarment periods were granted due to the parties’ cooperation during investigation, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts, and the time elapsed since the infractions.
“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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