The World Bank has blacklisted eighteen Nigerian firms and persons for engaging in corrupt and collusive practices in its 2021 financial year

In a new annual report titled World Bank Group Sanctions System FY21, the World Bank said the individuals and companies were sanctioned for different sentences depending on their offences.

The global lender noted that the firms and individuals were blacklisted by the World Bank Sanctions Board, World Bank Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

According to the report, Elie Abou Ghazaleh and Fadi Abou Ghazaleh, alongside their firm, Abou Ghazaleh Contracting Nigeria Limited, were debarred for six months for collusive practices.

It added that a Nigerian firm, Swansea Tools Resources, was debarred for fraudulent practices for two years and 10 months, while Juckon Construction and Allied Services Nigeria Limited, was debarred for corrupt practices for three years.

Another Nigerian, Okafor Glory, was debarred for fraudulent practices for four years, while the firm involved, Unique Concept Enterprises, was debarred for five years for same reason.

The bank added that another Nigerian company, Asbeco Nigeria Limited, was debarred for five years for corrupt practices.

It added that A.G. Vision Construction Nigeria Limited was debarred for fraudulent practices and collusive practices for four years and six months.

According to the World Bank, there are some firms that were debarred by other multilateral organisations under cross-debarment, which makes them debarred by the World Bank.