http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/afdb-debars-uk-based-eduteq-ltd-for-fraudulent-practices-13469/
AfDB bars UK-Based Eduteq Ltd. for Fraudulent Practices
04/09/2014
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on September 2, 2014, announced
the conclusion of a Negotiated Settlement Agreement (NSA) with Eduteq Ltd.
based in Leicester, United Kingdom, and its director, Ms. Katrina Grant.
Ensuing from an investigation by the AfDB’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption
Department (IACD), the company admitted to fraudulent practices in the
context of a bank-financed contract in Eritrea. In accordance with the NSA,
the AfDB debars Eduteq Ltd. for a period of two years and six months; Ms.
Grant is ineligible to be awarded a bank-financed contract for one year.
The release from debarment of Eduteq Ltd. is conditional to the company
implementing a compliance program satisfactory to the AfDB. The company is
eligible for cross debarment under the April 2010 Agreement for Mutual
Enforcement of Debarment Decisions entered into by the African Development
Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American
Development Bank Group.
“The African Development Bank has zero tolerance for fraud and corruption.
This case demonstrates our commitment to investigate sanctionable
practices, irrespective of whether these practices compromise large or
small contracts in the context of bank-financed projects”, says Anna
Bossman, Director of IACD.
In 2012, Eduteq Ltd. participated in bank-financed tenders for the delivery
and installation of equipment for an education and training project in
Eritrea. The company fraudulently failed to disclose its association with a
consultant providing technical support to the government in the context of
these tenders.
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About the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department
The Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department of the African Development
Bank Group is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating
allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank
Group-financed operations.
For more information visit
www.afdb.org/about-us/structure/integrity-and-anti-corruption/
African Development Bank staff and the general public can use IACD’s
secured hotlines to report sanctionable practices within the Bank or
operations financed by the Bank Group.
Secured telephone: +1 (770) 776-5658
Secured email server: investigations_at_iacd-afdb.org
Mail correspondence should be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and sent to:
Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department
21th Floor,
CCIA Building
Avenue Jean-Paul II – 01 BP 1387
ABIDJAN 01
COTE D’IVOIRE
Media Contact:
Alkassoum Aoudi Diallo, tel. +216 7110 3721, a.a.diallo_at_afdb.org
Technical Contact:
For more information please contact the Integrity and Anti-Corruption
Department Front Office:
Wissal Attouani, tel: +216 7110 2865, w.attouani_at_afdb.org
Received on Mon Sep 08 2014 - 11:16:06 EDT