Nigeria Loses, U.S. Wins As AfDB Orders New Probe Of Adesina

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The Bureau of Board of Governors of the African Development Bank Group has bowed to the pressure of the United States, by approving an independent investigation of the allegations against the President of the Bank, Akinwumi Adesina.

Recall that some unidentified whistleblowers accused Adesina of alleged embezzlement, distributing contracts to friends and appointing relatives to sensitive positions in the bank.

Adesina is seeking a second term as the president of the bank.

AfDB’s ethics committee had cleared Adeshina of the allegations leveled against him.

However, US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin dismissed the report of the committee, asking for an independent body to probe the allegations.

Many African leaders had thrown their weight behind the embattled president of the bank.

The Bureau, in a communique, signed by the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Boards of Governors, Niale Kaba after a meeting, on Thursday, agreed to authorize an independent review of the report of the Ethics Committee on the allegations.

The communiqué reads:

“The Bureau reiterates that it agrees that the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors performed its role on this matter in accordance with the applicable rule under Resolution B/BG/2008/11 of the Board of Governors.

“The Bureau also reiterates that the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors performed her role in accepting the findings of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the said Resolution.

“However, based on the views of some Governors on the matter and the need to carry every Governor along in resolving it, the Bureau agrees to authorize an Independent Review of the Report of the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors relative to the allegations considered by the Ethics Committee and the submissions made by the President of the Bank Group thereto in the interest of due process.

“The Independent Review shall be conducted by a neutral high calibre individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity within a short time period of not more than two to four weeks maximum, taking the Bank Group’s electoral calendar into account.

“The Bureau agrees that, within a three to six month period and following the independent review of the Ethics Committee Report, an independent comprehensive review of the implementation of the Bank Group’s Whistle-Blowing and Complaints Handling Policy should be conducted with a view to ensuring that the Policy is properly implemented, and revising it where necessary, to avoid situations of this nature in the future.”

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