The World Bank 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, Norman Didam, for alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
This sanction, announced by the Washington-based financial institution, prohibits the companies and Didam from participating in projects and operations financed by the World Bank Group during the debarment period.
In a statement, the World Bank disclosed that the penalties were linked to findings of fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt activities associated with the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria. The NSSNP aims to strengthen Nigeria’s social safety net systems by providing targeted financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households.
The statement read: “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 alleged fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
Investigations revealed that during the 2018 procurement process for the NSSNP, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam violated the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework.
According to the bank, the companies and their CEO misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bid documents and gained unauthorized access to confidential tender information from public officials, constituting fraudulent and collusive practices. Additionally, Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam were found to have falsified the company’s experience records, submitted forged manufacturer authorization letters, and provided inducements to public officials involved in the project.
“These violations directly contravened the principles outlined in the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework,” the statement emphasized.
The World Bank further explained: “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 authorisation letters, as well as offered and provided things of value to project public officials. These actions were fraudulent and corrupt practices, respectively.”
As part of a settlement agreement, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam acknowledged their culpability and agreed to implement stringent integrity compliance measures as a condition for lifting the debarment after 30 months.
