AfDB Debars UK-Based Eduteq Ltd. for Fraudulent Practices

4 September 2014
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

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.

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@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@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@afdb.org

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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