Two Nigerian firms and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officers have been sanctioned by the World Bank over allegation of fraudulent activities.
A statement by Washington-based institution on Monday, January 20, said the firms, firms are Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited with Mr Norman Bwuruk Didam as MD and CEO were banned due to fraudulent and corrupt activities lined to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP).
According to the statement, the companies contravened World Bank’s Anti-corruption Framework during the 2018 procurement and subsequent contracting procedures.
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 debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
The global bank noted that the companies misrepresented conflict of interest in their bids to access confidence tender information for funds.
It added, “According to the facts of the case and the general principles of the World Bank’s Anti-corruption 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 statement noted.
