The World Bank Wednesday debarred two Nigerian waste management companies and their owner for five years for “engaging in fraudulent practices” involving a project in Nigeria.

The two companies, Rojoke CNE Services Ltd. (Rojoke) and CNE Environmental & Waste Services Ltd. (CNE), and their owner, Robinson Ekenedilichukwu Ojoko, are ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects during the debarment.

Ojoko, on behalf of his companies, admitted to participating in “underlying sanctionable practices,” the World Bank said.

The $200 million World Bank-financed project was designed to bring jobs and better public budgeting in the states of Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, and Rivers in Nigeria.

Ojoko was an employee of the Delta state government agency in charge of implementing the project when Rojoke and CNE bid for two waste collection contracts under the project.

Both companies misrepresented Ojoko’s ownership interest in their bids, and Ojoko and the two companies submitted false documents in the bidding process.

The activity of Ojoko and the two companies was a “fraudulent practice” under World Bank procurement guidelines.

Ojoko and his companies are cooperating with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency and have committed to develop an integrity compliance program.

Wednesday’s debarments qualify for cross-debarment by the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the African Development Bank. FCPABlog