The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in a statement on Tuesday, announced an 18-month debarment of Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates, including Sargittarius Henan Water Conservancy Engineering Limited.

An investigation conducted by the bank’s integrity and anti-corruption office of Integrity said that the company engaged in fraudulent practices during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure in Ibadan, Nigeria, under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project.

The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the AfDB is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in bank group-financed operations.

The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project, co-financed by the African Development Fund, an entity of the AfDB group, and the government of Nigeria, was aimed at improving access to safe water supply and sanitation services in Ibadan and Jalingo.

The debarment renders Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates ineligible to participate in bank group-financed projects during the debarment period.

Additionally, the debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.

This includes 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 would only be eligible to resume participation in AfDB group-financed projects on condition that it implements an integrity compliance programme consistent with the bank’s guidelines.