Alleged Fraud: AfDB Bans Nigerian Company Ogon-Asu

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Development Bank Group has announced a 15-month debarment of a Nigerian construction company, Ogon-Asu Company Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr William Tuku Ogon.

The ban, which took effect on February 24, 2023, came after an investigation conducted by the bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Ogon-Asu Company Limited engaged in fraudulent practices.

This happened during a tender for the Provision of Equipment and Construction of Axle Load Scales/Weigh Stations along Enugu-Abakaliki-Mbok (Ogoja Junction) – Ikom-Mfum Road in Nigeria, a component of the Transport Facilitation Programme for the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok/Mfum-Abakaliki-Enugu Road Corridor in Cameroon and Nigeria.

The investigation further established that the company’s CEO, Mr Ogon engaged in an obstructive practice during the investigation.

The Transport Facilitation Programme for the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok/Mfum-Abakaliki-Enugu Road Corridor is expected to increase trade and strengthen cooperation between countries of the Central African states and those of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in general, and between Cameroon and Nigeria, in particular.

During the debarment period, Ogon-Asu Company Limited, its affiliates, and Mr Ogon will be ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed operations and activities.

At the expiration of the debarment period, the parties will only be eligible to resume participation in African Development Bank Group-financed operations and activities after implementing an integrity compliance program consistent with the bank’s guidelines.