Bipa millions still unrecovered

The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) says recovering the millions spent to buy a former bar in Wanaheda is proving to be a complicated exercise.In 2017 former Bipa CEO Tileinge Andima facilitated a deal in which the authority spent N$18 million to purchase the property, which was meant to serve as its regional headquarters in the Khomas Region.The Office of the Prosecutor-General has asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to have another look at the matter, it was reported recently. According to Bipa board chairperson Riundja Kaakunga there was, as yet, no criminal case.“Bipa could not take the money of the CEO while he is retiring. There is no court order; at the moment there is no case,” Kaakunga said.He also described the situation as complicated. “The issue now is whether the money can be recovered. The payment was made by government, but it was Bipa money,” Kaakunga said. “A decision will be made either way.”Bipa claimed Andima did not disclose to former industrialisation ministry permanent secretary Gabriel Sinimbo that the previous Bipa building was in the process of being deregistered following a resolution by the board on 14 June 2017.The money for the Wanaheda building came from the Offshore Development Company (ODC). ODC CEO Philip Namundjebo and board chairperson Gideon Shilongo wrote to Bank Windhoek's international business unit manager in July 2017 to authorise the payment.Government last year dragged Andima as well as the previous owners of the building, Martin and Hilma Shilengudwa, to court seeking to recover the N$18 million purchase price and N$2 million in transfer fees. The building was allegedly bought without the Public Procurement Act being followed to the letter. Kaakunga previously told Windhoek Observer that Andima did not have the board's blessing when he bought the property, as he never sought its advice or approval.Andima sought to buy the property on behalf of Bipa without obtaining board approval regarding the budgetary provision for the purchase, Bipa said.ACC spokesperson Josephine Nghituwamata told The Namibian last week they will not disclose the investigation findings at this stage.“The ACC carried out the investigations as per the prosecutor-general's recommendations, and sent the Bipa docket back to the PG's office in March 2019. The ACC cannot reveal anything about the findings yet,” Nghituwamata said.The former owners' daughter, Anne Shilengudwa, and her former law firm, Ellis Shilengudwa Incorporated, which facilitated the N$18 million transaction, were also cited as respondents in the civil claim brought by Bipa.Andima motivated the purchase of the property to Sinimbo on 20 June 2017, saying it would be cheaper for Bipa in the long run.Two weeks later, Sinimbo wrote back to Andima, informing him that approval to buy the property had been granted. OGONE TLHAGE

Bipa millions still unrecovered

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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Bipa millions still unrecovered

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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