United Aviation Services Limited accused of Fraudulent practices at Niger Northeast Connectivity Project

The World Bank Group has announced the 31-month debarments of United Aviation Services Limited.

The United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL), is a transportation services company based in Nigeria.

The World Bank has thus declared debarment of UNASEL and its owner and President, Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, in connection with fraudulent practices under the Enhancing Niger Northeastern Connectivity Project.

The Enhancing Niger Northeast Connectivity Project (ENNCP) which was approved and declared effective in 2021 with a total financing of US$ 175 million and proposed Additional Financing (AF) of US$90 million is aimed at supporting the Government of Niger’s strategy to improve connectivity within Niger by facilitating the safe movement of people and goods on key lifeline road corridors.

The project aims to enhance connectivity and road safety along the Zinder-Agadez Road section and improve access to basic socio-economic infrastructure for selected communities in that road section.

According to the facts of the case, the United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL) together with Mr. Alkali Mamu presented false experience documents in a prequalification application to qualify for a contract under the project.

This apparently, happens to be a fraudulent practice under the World Bank (WB)’s sanctions framework.

The debarments now make UNASEL and Mr. Mamu to be ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by Bank Group institutions.

The debarments are part of two settlement agreements under which the United Aviation Services Limited and and its owner, Mr. Mamu admit culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices.

As per the Bank Group Sanctioning Guidelines, the settlement agreements provide for a reduced period of debarment in light of UNASEL and Mr. Mamu’s cooperation.

As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreements, UNASEL and Mr. Mamu commit to developing and implementing integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines, and Mr. Mamu further agrees to complete corporate ethics training.

The company, UNASEL and its director, Mr. Mamu also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency.

The debarments of UNASEL and Mr. Mamu qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.