The sanctions are linked to fraudulent practices under the Enhancing Niger Northeastern Connectivity Project, which aims to improve connectivity and road safety along the Zinder-Agadez Road section and expand access to basic socio-economic infrastructure for selected communities.

According to the World Bank, Entreprise Babati and Babati submitted false experience documents and a false tax certificate in a prequalification application for a project contract.

The World Bank said this constituted a fraudulent practice under the institution’s sanctions framework.

The debarment makes both Entreprise Babati and Babati ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by World Bank Group institutions during the sanction period.

The sanctions form part of two settlement agreements in which Entreprise Babati and Babati admitted culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices.

The World Bank said the settlement agreements provide for a reduced debarment period because of cooperation by the company and Babati.

As a condition for release from sanction, Entreprise Babati and Babati have committed to developing and implementing integrity compliance measures aligned with the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

Babati also agreed to complete corporate ethics training.

The company and Babati further committed to continue cooperating fully with the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency.

The debarments may also be recognised by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, signed on April 9, 2010.

The agreement allows participating development banks to enforce each other’s debarment decisions, strengthening accountability across internationally financed development projects.

The World Bank said the sanctions reflect efforts to protect development financing and ensure that companies participating in bank-funded projects meet integrity and transparency standards.

–WorldBank/ChannelAfrica–