Alleged Corrupt Practices: World Bank Sanction AIM Consultant, Amin Moussalli
The World Bank has sanctioned AIM Consultants Limited and its managing director, Amin Moussalli, for alleged unethical conduct, according to Thecitypulsenews.
The company, which worked on the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, was fined N12.95 million for making inappropriate payments to project officials.
On Wednesday, the World Bank Group issued a statement headlined “World Bank Group Debars AIM Consultants Limited and its Managing Director,” which was posted on the bank’s website.
The statement read in part, “The World Bank Group today announced the 52-month sanction of AIM Consultants Limited, a consultancy company based in Nigeria, and its Managing Director, Amin Moussalli, in connection with corrupt practices as part of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project.
“The sanction consists of a 34-month debarment followed by an 18-month conditional non-debarment. The debarments make AIM Consultants and Moussalli ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by the World Bank Group.”
The debarment was imposed following settlement agreements in which the corporation and Moussalli admitted to their roles in the corrupt activities and committed to achieve certain corporate compliance requirements before the debarment period ended.
Following the 34-month debarment, the firm and its MD will be eligible to engage in World Bank Group-financed projects and operations as long as they adhere to the settlement agreement’s terms.
It added, “Following the initial debarment period, the sanction of AIM Consultants and Moussalli will convert to a conditional non-debarment. During this time, they will be eligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group as long as they comply with their obligations under the settlement agreement.
“Otherwise, the conditional non-debarment will revert to a sanction of debarment with conditional release, and the company and Moussalli then will become ineligible to participate in World Bank Group projects and operations until the conditions for release set out in the settlement agreement are met.”
It added, “The project aims to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-watersheds. According to the facts of the case, during implementation of two World Bank-financed consultancy services contracts for the provision of engineering design and supervision works in Enugu and Cross River States in Nigeria, AIM Consultants made improper payments totaling N12,954,400 (approx. $45,500) to project officials.”
