By Ray Umukoro

The World Bank has debarred no fewer than 18 Nigerian companies and persons from executing any contract with it for reasons bordering on fraud, bribes and sundry fiscal malfeasance, a  World Bank document obtained by Political Economist has shown.  They were among scores of companies worldwide which were debarred by the World Bank from handling any World Bank-assisted project either permanently or for a specified period.

The affected Nigerian entities include: Best Scan Solutions Limited of 10 Obanle Aro Avenue, Off Coker Road, Ilupeju,  Lagos  debarred from  24-Jan-2017 to 23-Jan-2021; Mr. Iyke Ambrose, 10 Obanle Aro Avenue, Off Coker Road, Ilupeju,  Lagos     Nigeria (24-Jan-2017 to 23-JAan-2021); Zarcus Construction Nigeria Ltd, No 4B Oboro Street, Independence Layout, Enugu State,  Enugu  from 14-Nov. 2016 to 13-Nov-2018; Engr. Hammed Mutiu Olalekan  Suite C455, Harmonic Plaza Jabi District Abuja,  Federal Capital City from  21-Oct-2016 to 20-Apr-2018; Honeyomar Ventures Ltd. Suite C455, Harmonic Plaza Jabi District Abuja,  Federal Capital City Nigeria from 21-Oct-2016 to 20-Apr-2018; Agonic Associates Nig Ltd, Plot 125 Obong Lane, State Housing Estate, Cross River State,  Calabar from  30-Jun-2016 to         29-Jun-2019; Mr. Agomuo Nicholas of Plot 124 Oblong Lane, State Housing Estate, Cross River State,  Calabar from 30-Jun-2016 to 29-June 2019; D.A. Construction Limited of House No. 1, 114 Road,  1^st Avenue (A.P. Filling Station End), Gwarinpa ,  Abuja             from 06-MAY-2014 (Review of its debarment  is still ongoing, according to World Bank).

Others are: Contransimex Nigeria Limited  of 8, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Ikeja, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos, from 30-May-2012 and still ongoing; Sego Ventures Nigeria Limited  of 17B Canery Drive, MKO  Abiola Gardens,Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos,   (03-JUN-2011 and ongoing); Karitex Limited Nigeria was debarred permanently from 24-Feb-2000; Gurpreet Singh Malik,  Lagos  from 11-Feb-2000 (Permanent); Kamal Sharda,  Lagos from 11-Feb-2000 (Permanent); Sharda Impex (U.K.) Ltd.           , Lagos from 11-Feb-2000 (Permanent); Shereena Agriculture Ltd.     , Kano from 11-Feb-2000 (Permanent); Vikram Deepak Gursahaney ,  Lagos from 11-Feb-2000 (Permanent);

The affected companies and persons are ineligible to be awarded a World Bank-financed contract for the periods indicated because they have been sanctioned under the Bank’s fraud and corruption policy as set forth in the Procurement Guidelines or the Consultant Guidelines. Such sanction was imposed as the result of:

(1) An administrative process conducted by the Bank that permitted the accused firms and individuals to respond to the allegations. Through July 2007, this process was conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Committee Procedures adopted on August 2, 2001. Since then, the process has been conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures of the World Bank Group Sanctions Board. For more information on the two-tier sanctions process go to Sanctions Management webpage; or

(2) Cross-debarment in accordance with the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions dated 9 April 2010, which, as of July 1, 2011, has been made effective by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and African Development Bank.

Also debarred is Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG of Germany  for fifteen months after a former employee took bribes to influence contract awards on a project in Africa.

Stuttgart-based Fichtner has about 1,500 employees worldwide. It provides engineering services for infrastructure projects. The sanctionable misconduct occurred under the World Bank-financed Southern Africa Power Market Project  (SAPMP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Privately-held Fichtner entered into a Negotiated Resolution Agreement with the World Bank.

The company didn’t “contest the corrupt practice by a former employee, who received improper payments in exchange for influencing a tender process under the SAPMP by significantly narrowing competition.”