World Bank blacklists Nigerian firms for fraudulent practices

PUNCH

The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, as well as their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.

In a statement released Monday, the Washington-based institution disclosed that its investigation uncovered significant violations of its Anticorruption Framework during a 2018 procurement process. The companies and Mr. Didam were found to have misrepresented conflicts of interest in bid submissions and accessed confidential tender information from public officials.

Furthermore, Viva Atlantic Limited and its CEO falsified experience records submitted forged authorization letters, and provided inducements to officials involved in the project.

The NSSNP, aimed at enhancing social safety nets for vulnerable Nigerian households, was compromised through unethical practices. According to the World Bank, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam engaged in: misrepresenting conflicts of interest in bid documents, illegally obtaining confidential tender information, falsifying corporate experience and manufacturer authorization letters, and offering inducements to public officials.

“These actions constituted fraudulent, collusive, and c