AfDB Blacklists Nigerian Firm Lutoyilex Construct Limited for Fraud

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has debarred Lutoyilex Construct Limited, a Nigerian construction company, from bidding for contracts over alleged “fraudulent practices”.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Bamidele Obiniyi was also debarred by the body and the debarment is expected to last for a period of 36 months.

According to an investigation conducted by the AfDB’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Lutoyilex Construct Limited had allegedly engaged in a fraudulent practice while bidding for a construction contract under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One in Nigeria (ATASP-1).

While participating in a tender for the construction of social infrastructure in Niger State of Nigeria, AfDB also said the company misrepresented its experience in conducting similar construction contracts.

The debarment will render the company and its Managing Director ineligible to participate in any projects carried out by AfDB during the debarment period.

It also qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Recognition 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.

Lutoyilex has joined the league of companies that have been blacklisted by the international body for similar offenses.

While Qualitrends Global Solutions Nigeria Limited and its Managing Director were sanctioned last month, ALG Global Concept Nigeria Limited and its Managing Director were also debarred for bidding for contracts.

In January, the group announced the debarment of a Nigerian firm, ALG Global Concept Nigeria Limited, a construction company registered in Nigeria and its Managing Director, for a period of 36 months.

Other companies that have been barred are -CNE Environmental & Waste Services Limited, Agonic Associates Niger Limited, Best Scan Solutions, D.A. Construction Limited, Emmajoko Nig Enterprises, Idemia Nigeria Limited, Marabef Global Limited, Oberthur Technologies Nigeria Limited, Oceanic Construction and Engineering Nigeria Limited, Rojoke CNE Services Ltd., and SNC-Lavalin International (Nigeria) Limited.