In a bid to check allegations of corruption, fraud and associated wrongful practices, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has sworn in new sanctions commissioner and alternate sanctions commissioner.
In a statement, the bank announced that Justin Wanjala and Justice Niyungeko had been sworn in as the new sanctions commissioner and alternate sanctions commissioner of the group.
The swearing-in ceremony was chaired by the Group’s Senior Vice President, Charles Boamah, in the presence of members of the Board of Directors alongside the General Counsel and the Secretary-General.
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According to the statement, the new appointees, who have had over 35 years of combined experience in the legal field are to decide on allegations on the wrongful practices in the bank.
“As the bank’s sanctions commissioner and alternate sanctions commissioner, Justices Wanjala and Niyungeko will decide on allegations of corruption, fraud and associated wrongful practices in connection with bank group-financed activities. They will issue sanctions against individuals and entities whose liability is established following a written and adversarial process.”
The sanctions commissioners will operate within the sanctions office, the first-tier of the sanctions system and an essential component in the fight against corruption at the bank.
Justin Wanjala’s profile: Wanjala is a Kenyan national who is currently a Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya. He was a lecturer of law at the University of Nairobi for 20 years. He also worked at KCB Bank Group and as a deputy director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. Wanjala was also a Data Enumeration Supervisor at the International Potato Center (CIP).
Justice Niyungeko’s profile: Niyungeko is a Burundian national and is currently a professor of international law and constitutional law at the University of Burundi. He has previously served as a judge and then President of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He is currently a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and an author of several works.
