- CEO, Norman Didam Also Axed
By Abiola Olawale
The World Bank has taken serious action against two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their CEO, Norman Bwuruk Didam, imposing a 30-month debarment following evident allegations of fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices.
The global apex financial institution explained that the sanction is associated with their involvement in Nigeria’s National Social Safety Nets Project where the two companies committed inappropriate acts, ethical misconduct and fraud.
The New Diplomat reports that debarment means that these entities are ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by all institutions of the World Bank Group during the period specified and determined by the Bank.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Washington-based bank on Monday.
The statement added that the actions taken by the World Bank are part of a broader effort to combat corruption within its financed projects, aligning with similar actions previously taken against other Nigerian corporate entities for similar reasons.
The statement reads in part: “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 NSSNP was established to enhance Nigeria’s social safety net systems by providing targeted financial transfers to poor and vulnerable households.
However, investigations revealed serious breaches of the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework in the 2018 procurement and subsequent contract processes involving Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam.
The World Bank revealed that it unearthed serious irregularities involving the companies and Didam, highlighting that they deliberately misrepresented a conflict of interest in their Letter of Bids. Additionally, they unlawfully accessed confidential tender information from public officials. These actions are classified as fraudulent and indicative of collusive practices.
Furthermore, both Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam engaged in deceptive activities by allegedly falsifying their experience records, which are crucial for establishing their qualifications for the project. They submitted forged letters of authorization from manufacturers, undermining the integrity of the procurement process. In a further breach of ethics, they offered inducements to public officials associated with the project, actions that clearly fall under the definition of corrupt practices.
According to World Bank these violations directly contravened the principles outlined in the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, prompting the sanctions.
The statement added: “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.”
