The African Development Bank has blacklisted at least 40 Nigerian firms and individuals for engaging in corrupt practices, fraud and collusive practices between 2017 and 2021, according to data obtained from the bank’s website.

The AfDB said the firms and individuals were debarred “for coercive, collusive, corrupt, fraudulent, or obstructive practices under its sanctions system or adopted under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions from other global lenders.”

Due to the debarment, the firms and individuals are not eligible to engage in projects financed or implemented by the AfDB.

The AfDB statement stated in part. “The individuals and firms below have been sanctioned by the African Development Bank Group or by signatories to the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions. Sanctions are imposed on entities found to have participated in coercive, collusive, corrupt, fraudulent, or obstructive practices under the Bank’s sanctions system or adopted under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.

“These individuals and firms are therefore considered ineligible to participate in contracts financed or administered by the African Development Bank Group for the stipulated periods.”

While some of the debarments were made by AfDB, others were made by the World Bank Group, but recognised by other multilateral organisations including the AfDB under the cross-debarment policy.

In 2017, a Nigerian and a Nigerian firm were debarred by the World Bank under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

In 2018, two Nigerians and two Nigerian firms were debarred by the World Bank under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

Mr. Patrick Alozie Onwuka and Marabef Global Limited were debarred from January 11, 2018, to January 10, 2022, while Mr. Efe Michael Udumebraye and his firm, Efemaz Construction and GE Services Limited, were debarred from December 13, 2018, to December 12, 2022.

In 2019, five Nigerians and seven Nigerian firms were debarred, making a total of 12. Out of this, six debarments were made by the AfDB and the rest by the World Bank. The AfDB debarred Abuharaira Labaran Gero and his firm, ALG Global Concept Nigeria Limited, from January 23, 2019, to January 2022.

The World Bank debarred Mr. Benson Ojoko, Mr. Henry Chinedu Ojoko, and their firm, Emmajoko Nigeria Enterprises, from January 29, 2019, to January 28, 2024, under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

The AfDB also debarred Oceanic Construction and Engineering Nigeria Limited from February 1, 2019, to January 31, 2023.

The World Bank debarred Mr. Robinson Ojoko and his firms, Rojoke CNE Services Limited and CNE Environmental and Waste Services Limited, from February 5, 2019, to February 4, 2024, under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

While the AfDB debarred Qualitrends Global Solutions Nigeria Limited from April 16, 2019 to April 15, 2022, the bank debarred (Mr. Bamidele Obiniyi (also known as Mr. Bamidele Abayomi) and Lutoyilex Construct Limited from May 14, 2019, to May 13, 2022.

The World Bank debarred Mr. Ugochukwu Ezeh and a firm, Kenoster (Nigeria) Limited, from February 3, 2020, to February 2, 2024, under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

The AfDB debarred Bluestream Systems and Device Limited from February 13, 2020, to February 12, 2021. The debarment is still ongoing. The bank also debarred Beulah Universal Link Resources Limited from February 13, 2020, to February 12, 2024

China Zhonghao Nigeria Limited was debarred by the AfDB from April 14, 2020, to October 13, 2021. The debarment is still valid.

The AfDB debarred CCC International Engineering (Nigeria) Limited and Sinotec Co. Limited (Nigeria office) from April 20, 2020, to April 19, 2023

The World Bank debarred Mr. Mayor Ejiro Hasting and a firm, Puriholi Nigeria, from April 21, 2020, to November 20, 2026, under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

In 2021, four Nigerian firms were debarred; three by the AfDB and one by the World Bank. Maxicare Company Nigeria Limited was debarred by the AfDB from February 23, 2021, to February 22, 2024

The World Bank debarred Asbeco Nigeria Limited from May 25, 2021, to May 24, 2026, under the cross-debarment policy recognised by the AfDB.

The AfDB debarred Sargittarius Henan Water Conservancy Engineering Limited and Sargittarius Nigeria Limited from July 28, 2021, to January 27, 2023.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the World Bank had blacklisted 18 Nigerian individuals and firms for engaging in corrupt practices, fraud, and collusive practices in its 2021 fiscal year.

(The PUNCH)

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