Effective Date
This Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy (“Policy”) establishes the principles, standards, responsibilities, and procedures adopted by Chekpros.com (“Chekpros,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) to prevent bribery, corruption, improper influence, kickbacks, facilitation payments, fraud, and other unethical business practices in connection with its products, services, applications, software, APIs, marketplace functionalities, and business operations (collectively, the “Services”).
This Policy applies to all users of Chekpros.com, including freelancers, employers, clients, businesses, agencies, enterprise customers, vendors, contractors, consultants, partners, employees (where applicable), service providers, affiliates, and other third parties (collectively, “Users,” “you,” or “your”).
By accessing or using Chekpros.com, users acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Policy together with the Terms and Conditions, Code of Conduct, Whistleblower Policy, Anti-Fraud and Financial Crimes Policy, Vendor Agreement, Enterprise Services Agreement, and all other policies maintained by Chekpros.
- Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to:
- Promote ethical business practices.
- Prevent bribery and corruption.
- Protect the integrity of the Chekpros marketplace.
- Ensure fair competition.
- Maintain user trust and confidence.
- Reduce legal and financial risks.
- Support compliance with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
- Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity.
Chekpros is committed to conducting its business honestly, fairly, and ethically in every jurisdiction in which it operates.
- Scope
This Policy applies to:
- Marketplace transactions.
- Business relationships.
- Procurement activities.
- Vendor engagements.
- Enterprise services.
- Financial transactions.
- Partnership agreements.
- Sponsorships.
- Marketing activities.
- Government interactions.
- Third-party representatives.
- Contractors and consultants.
- All other activities connected to Chekpros.
This Policy applies regardless of geographic location or local business customs.
- Zero-Tolerance Commitment
Chekpros maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward:
- Bribery.
- Corruption.
- Kickbacks.
- Secret commissions.
- Improper payments.
- Facilitation payments where prohibited by applicable law.
- Commercial bribery.
- Abuse of authority.
- Improper influence.
No business opportunity is considered more important than maintaining ethical conduct.
- What Is Bribery?
Bribery generally involves offering, promising, giving, requesting, soliciting, or accepting anything of value in order to improperly influence a decision, action, or business outcome.
Examples include:
- Cash payments.
- Gifts.
- Entertainment.
- Travel.
- Employment opportunities.
- Personal favors.
- Discounts not available to others.
- Loans.
- Donations intended to influence decisions.
- Valuable services provided without legitimate business justification.
Both giving and receiving bribes are prohibited.
- What Is Corruption?
Corruption includes any dishonest or unethical conduct intended to obtain an unfair advantage.
Examples include:
- Abuse of authority.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
- Favoritism.
- Procurement fraud.
- Bid manipulation.
- Kickback arrangements.
- Misuse of confidential information.
- Improper influence over business decisions.
- Prohibited Conduct
Users shall not directly or indirectly:
- Offer bribes.
- Accept bribes.
- Promise improper benefits.
- Request improper payments.
- Provide kickbacks.
- Manipulate procurement processes.
- Influence contract awards through improper means.
- Conceal corrupt activities.
- Misrepresent transactions.
- Circumvent internal controls.
- Use intermediaries to engage in prohibited conduct.
Attempting to engage in prohibited conduct is treated the same as completing it.
- Gifts, Hospitality, and Entertainment
Reasonable and lawful business courtesies may be acceptable in limited circumstances, provided they:
- Are modest in value.
- Are not intended to influence business decisions.
- Are transparent.
- Comply with applicable laws.
- Are consistent with ethical business practices.
Users must not offer or accept gifts, hospitality, or entertainment that could reasonably be perceived as influencing a decision or creating an obligation.
- Facilitation Payments
Chekpros discourages facilitation payments and prohibits them where prohibited by applicable law.
Facilitation payments generally refer to unofficial payments made to secure or expedite routine governmental or administrative actions.
Where a payment is made under immediate threat to health or personal safety, the circumstances should be reported to Chekpros as soon as reasonably practicable.
- Conflicts of Interest
Users should avoid situations where personal interests may improperly influence business decisions.
Potential conflicts may include:
- Family relationships.
- Financial interests.
- Outside employment.
- Ownership interests.
- Personal relationships.
- Undisclosed business arrangements.
Users are expected to disclose known conflicts where appropriate.
- Third-Party Relationships
Chekpros expects vendors, contractors, consultants, partners, and other third parties to conduct business ethically.
Third parties acting on behalf of Chekpros should comply with:
- This Policy.
- Applicable laws.
- Contractual obligations.
- Ethical business standards.
Chekpros reserves the right to review, suspend, or terminate relationships involving suspected unethical conduct.
- Procurement and Fair Competition
Procurement decisions should be based on legitimate business considerations, including:
- Quality.
- Price.
- Qualifications.
- Reliability.
- Performance.
- Compliance.
Improper influence over procurement decisions is prohibited.
- Political Contributions
Chekpros does not permit the use of its platform, funds, or resources for unlawful political contributions or political influence activities.
Users remain individually responsible for complying with applicable political finance laws.
- Charitable Donations and Sponsorships
Charitable donations or sponsorships must not be used to:
- Conceal bribery.
- Obtain improper advantages.
- Influence business decisions.
- Circumvent legal obligations.
Chekpros reserves the right to review activities that may present corruption risks.
- Financial Records
All financial transactions relating to Chekpros should be accurately recorded.
Users shall not:
- Create false invoices.
- Falsify accounting records.
- Conceal payments.
- Misclassify transactions.
- Maintain undisclosed accounts.
Accurate recordkeeping supports transparency and compliance.
- Reporting Concerns
Users are encouraged to promptly report suspected:
- Bribery.
- Corruption.
- Kickbacks.
- Fraud.
- Improper influence.
- Financial misconduct.
- Ethical violations.
Reports may be submitted through the official reporting or support channels provided by Chekpros.
- Investigations
Chekpros may investigate suspected violations by:
- Reviewing records.
- Examining transactions.
- Conducting interviews where appropriate.
- Reviewing communications.
- Assessing supporting evidence.
- Consulting legal, compliance, or security professionals.
Users are expected to cooperate with reasonable investigations.
- Non-Retaliation
Chekpros prohibits retaliation against individuals who report suspected misconduct in good faith.
Retaliation may include:
- Harassment.
- Threats.
- Intimidation.
- Unjustified account restrictions.
- Discrimination.
- Other adverse actions taken solely because an individual reported a concern.
This protection does not apply to individuals who knowingly submit false or malicious allegations.
- Enforcement
Violations of this Policy may result in actions including:
- Warnings.
- Account restrictions.
- Suspension.
- Permanent account termination.
- Recovery of improperly obtained funds where permitted.
- Referral to law enforcement or regulatory authorities where required.
Chekpros reserves the right to take appropriate corrective action based on the circumstances.
- Record Retention
Records relating to investigations, compliance reviews, and reports under this Policy may be retained in accordance with the Chekpros Records Retention Policy and applicable legal requirements.
- User Responsibilities
Users are responsible for:
- Conducting business ethically.
- Complying with applicable laws.
- Avoiding conflicts of interest.
- Maintaining accurate records.
- Cooperating with investigations.
- Reporting suspected violations.
- Refraining from retaliatory conduct.
- Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chekpros shall not be liable for:
- Independent actions of users.
- Decisions made by regulatory authorities.
- Consequences arising from unlawful conduct by third parties.
- Business losses resulting from enforcement of this Policy.
- Delays associated with compliance investigations.
Nothing in this Policy limits rights or obligations established by applicable law.
- Policy Modifications
Chekpros reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time to reflect:
- Changes in law.
- Regulatory developments.
- Industry standards.
- Operational needs.
- Security requirements.
- Business growth.
Updated versions become effective upon publication unless otherwise required by law.
Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
- Governing Law
This Policy shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other applicable laws and regulations governing the operations of Chekpros.
- Contact Information
Questions regarding this Policy or reports of suspected bribery, corruption, or unethical conduct should be submitted through the official reporting or support channels available on Chekpros.com.
Chekpros encourages timely reporting to help maintain a transparent, ethical, and trustworthy marketplace.
- Acknowledgment
By accessing or using Chekpros.com, users acknowledge that ethical conduct, transparency, and integrity are fundamental principles of the Platform.
Users further acknowledge their responsibility to conduct business honestly, avoid bribery and corruption, comply with applicable laws, and report suspected violations in good faith.
Chekpros is committed to maintaining a marketplace built on fairness, accountability, professionalism, and ethical business practices, and will continue to strengthen its compliance framework to protect its users, partners, and the integrity of its global marketplace.