World Bank bans two Nigerian firms, CEO over corruption scandal

  

 The World Bank Group has announced the debarment of two Nigerian firms, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Norman Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive and corrupt practices.

 

The debarment, lasting 30 months, is tied to unethical activities during the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.

 

The project, designed to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households, was compromised during the 2018 procurement and contract process. According to a statement issued on Monday, the two companies and Mr. Didam misrepresented conflicts of interest, accessed confidential tender information, falsified experience records, and submitted fake manufacturer authorizations. They were also found to have offered inducements to project officials.

 

The statement said, “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 penalties preclude the firms and their CEO from participating in World Bank-financed projects for the duration of the debarment. The settlement agreement includes reduced debarment periods due to their cooperation during the investigation, voluntary corrective actions, and time elapsed since the infractions.

 

As part of their agreement, Didam is required to complete ethics training while the companies must enhance internal compliance policies and implement corporate ethics programs in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

 

The debarments are also subject to cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.