On August 17, 2021, the African Development Bank (ADB) announced that it had debarred Sargittarius Nigeria Limited (SNL), a Nigerian engineering firm, for 18 months. According to the ADB, SNL “engaged in fraudulent practices during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure” in connection with the ADB’s Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project in Nigeria (which is intended to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation services in the Nigerian cities of Ibadan and Jalingo).
During its debarment period, SNL and its affiliates are ineligible to participate in ADB projects, and are subject to cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks. As a condition for its release from debarment, SNL must implement an integrity compliance program consistent with ADB guidelines.