The World Bank Group has announced a 30-month debarment for two Nigerian firms, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, alongside their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Didam.
This action is linked to fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices associated with the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, the World Bank revealed that the project, which aimed to offer financial assistance to vulnerable households, was compromised due to unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract process.
The statement said, “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 World Bank explained that the debarment was in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices related to the National Social Safety Nets Project. Specifically, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam were accused of misrepresenting a conflict of interest in their bids and accessing confidential tender information from public officials.
The bank categorized these actions as fraudulent and collusive practices under its Anti-corruption Framework.
Further, it noted that Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam had falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorization letters, and offered inducements to project officials—acts deemed as corrupt practices.
The World Bank emphasized, “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.”
Additionally, the statement pointed out, “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.”
As a result of the debarment, the two companies and Mr. Didam are now prohibited from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the duration of the period.
The World Bank further noted that as part of the settlement agreements, the parties had acknowledged their involvement and agreed to meet certain conditions, including enhancing compliance measures.
These conditions require Mr. Didam to undergo individual ethics training, while the companies must improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programs in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The bank also mentioned that the reduced debarment period was granted in recognition of the parties’ cooperation during the investigation, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts, as well as the time that has passed since the infractions took place.
The statement added, “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 further reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in development projects.
The sanctions serve as a demonstration of its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, with the affected parties required to fulfill the specified conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future participation in Bank-funded projects.
