The World Bank has prohibited two Nigerian businessmen, Mr. Akuboh Victor Uneojo and Engr. Innocent O. Diyoke, together with their company, Diyokes Consultants Limited, due to allegations of fraud and corruption.
This is based on information from the bank’s website on individuals and businesses that have been barred and are not qualified to take part in contracts funded by the World Bank for the specified time frames.
The World Bank’s dedication to upholding integrity in its operations was demonstrated by the sanctions, which have a one- to two-year duration, BrandSpur digital news platform reports.
Continuing, the World Bank has prohibited Mr. Akuboh Victor Uneojo, of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, from taking part in any projects for two years, starting on March 12, 2024, and ending on April 11, 2026. The discovery of unethical behaviour connected to Mr. Uneojo led to this punishment.
In a World Bank document that included notes on the penalties, it said: “The period of ineligibility for Mr. Akuboh Victor Uneojo (“Mr. Akuboh”) extends to any legal entity that he directly or indirectly controls. The minimum period of ineligibility is the two-year-one-month period indicated in the posting above; provided, however, that after this minimum period of ineligibility of two years and one month, Mr. Akuboh may be released from ineligibility only if he has demonstrated to the World Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Officer that he has complied with the following conditions:
“(a) he has taken appropriate remedial measures to address the sanctionable practice for which he has been sanctioned; (b) he has completed training and/or other educational programs that demonstrate a continuing commitment to personal integrity and business ethics; and (c) any entity that is an Affiliate directly or indirectly controlled by him has adopted and implemented, in a manner satisfactory to the Bank, integrity compliance measures as may be imposed by the World Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Officer (e.g., an integrity compliance program or elements thereof) to address the sanctionable practice,” it added.
Furthering, likewise, Enugu State-based Diyokes Consultants Limited and its principal, Engineer Innocent O. Diyoke, have been prohibited from engaging in fraudulent activities. The company and Engineer Diyoke were subject to a prohibition that ran from March 11, 2024, to September 10, 2025.
Diyokes Consultants Limited, an Enugu State-based company, and its principal, Engineer Innocent O. Diyoke, were involved in a fraudulent case about the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), according to a separate document that the local news brand saw regarding the Diyokes Consultants case.
The World Bank-funded project sought to lessen the areas in Nigeria that were most vulnerable to soil erosion. A contract for the engineering design and management of erosion control sites in Abia State was given to the company, which is a joint venture.
The World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) had accused the company and its Managing Director of engaging in fraudulent acts both throughout the contract’s selection and implementation phases, which gave rise to the case.
They were specifically charged with fabricating the presence of a joint venture partner and misrepresenting the availability of important personnel for the project. These employees were then replaced without giving notice to the Abia State Project Management Unit (Abia SPMU), the project management unit, or getting their permission.
Diyokes Consultants Limited and Engineer Innocent O. Diyoke intentionally or carelessly misled the Abia SPMU to profit monetarily from the contract, according to the World Bank’s Sanctions Board.
The Sanctions Board thereupon placed a debarment with conditional release on the company and its managing director, which will be in force starting on March 11, 2024, and last for at least a year and a half.
They are, however, not allowed to take part in any World Bank-financed projects during this time due to the sanctions.
