The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has announced an 18-month debarment of Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates, including Sargittarius Henan Water Conservancy Engineering Limited, with effect from 28 July 2021.
Sargittarius Nigeria Limited is a limited liability company registered in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
AfDB said the debarment followed “An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Sargittarius Nigeria Limited engaged in fraudulent practices during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure in Ibadan, Nigeria, under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project in Nigeria.”
The Bank explained that the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project, is aimed at improving access to safe water supply and sanitation services in the Nigerian cities of Ibadan and Jalingo, and is co-financed by the AfDB’s African Development Fund, and the Government of Nigeria.
The debarment therefore renders Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects during the debarment period, according to a statement posted on the Bank’s official website on Tuesday.
An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Sargittarius Nigeria Limited engaged in fraudulent practices during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure in Ibadan, Nigeria, under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project in Nigeria.
Additionally, the debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group.
At the expiry of the debarment period, Sargittarius Nigeria Limited will only be eligible to resume participation in African Development Bank Group-financed projects on condition that it implements an integrity compliance program consistent with the Bank’s guidelines.
The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the African Development Bank Group is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank Group-financed operations.
In particular, Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 16 targets notes corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries about $1.26 trillion yearly. “This amount of money could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years.”
