This appears not to be the best of times for Akinwumi Adesina, the President of Africa Development Bank (AfDB), who is in the process of canvassing votes for a second term. This is because the United States Government is pushing for more investigation into his activities.
The U.S Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, has called for an independent probe into allegations by a group of whistleblowers against the AfDB President, thereby rejecting plans by the bank’s board to stop the investigation on the issue.
According to a monitored report from Bloomberg, a letter which was dated May 22 and addressed to the Chairperson of the AfDB board of directors, Niale Kaba, stated that the US Treasury Department disagreed with the findings by the bank’s ethics committee that cleared Adesina of any wrongdoing.
According to the US treasury secretary, “We have deep reservations about the integrity of the committee’s process. Instead we urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing.”
It can be recalled that a group of anonymous staff had accused Adesina of multiple cases of abuse and breaches of the bank’s code of ethics. The allegations include various cases of alleged breaches of the code of conduct, unethical conduct, private gain, an impediment to efficiency, preferential treatment, and involvement in political activity, all affecting confidence in the integrity of the bank.
(READ MORE:AfDB, Asian Bank, others worsen poor nations’ debt problem – World Bank)
There were allegations of a certain number of appointments and departures deemed questionable and several contracts approved under Adesina’s leadership which were in violation of the bank’s statutory and ethical rules.
Although Adesina insisted on his innocence, having been cleared by the bank’s Ethics Committee of all charges brought against him, the whistleblowers expressed serious doubts about the ability of the African Development Bank to conduct an independent investigation. Therefore, they said they did not have enough confidence in the Ethics committee handling the case dispassionately.
The criticism by the United State Government, who is the biggest non-African shareholder, follows questions about the bank’s internal processes and comments by World Bank President, David Malpass in February that multilateral lenders including the AfDB tend to lend money too quickly, and in the process add to the debt problems in Africa. Adesina had refuted this claim, describing it as not fact based.
There is always a problem of finesse and integrity with mostly African Managers. I hope he has not compromised his principality tenure.
US of America….. They don’t want him for second tenure ….. He didn’t play their Ball … They want a man who will dance to their tune
If Adesina did not kowtow and bend and shiver before the self acclaimed world leader he will definitely be in trouble. I hope for his sake he is above board ! To stand up for what is best for Africa as he has been doing and not run into trouble against neocolonial interest he has to be!;
What is your point? Is it making Africa’s development his main focus or listening to what Mnuchin and the corrupt elements in Donald Trump administration are saying. He has a choice to make
It has become the new normal that Africans are accused of corruption when the case is purely political.
If he had been indicted by the ethics committee, that would have been the summary end of his career. But he was vindicated.
What is the point of due process and justice if he is still presumed culpable regardless of that verdict?
It’s sad that Nairametrics will use it’s platform to spread these flimsy allegations without an attempt to get direct comments from AfDB .
Ade, you are on point.
Advanced slavery by western world. God deliver Africa from the enemies that want to keep the continent underdeveloped. Africa is fortunate to have the likes of Adesina! He is not a butt-kissing leader.
One hopes the allegations are eventually found to be untrue because he is held in high esteem.
Bro, nothing here . The thing is like he has made loans that will accelerate development some people want Africa to be underdeveloped so it will used to make money and her never have clout in the world
Anyone who is working for the benefit of his or her country is always regarded as a corrupted person by the west, especially the united states of America USA. If he wasn’t promoting inter trade amongst African countries and search, buy African products first, USA will not have an thing against him, not to mention investigating him. We (Africans with the love of Africa at heart )should investigate him themselves and give Akinwumi Adesina, should be given ample opportunities to defined himself from those interested in the enslavement of Africa.
The interest of the west is always anathema to the general good of African countries. The US is not really interested in the development of Africa but always looking for an ally who will do their bidding not minding damage it does to the Africans.The time is now when africa needs to be master of herself.
This is a ploy by western world to bring Africa down. What a pity.
Nigerians know how to make a news were there is no news. Let’s learn to write good of what is happening around us and not look for light things and blow them up as wrongs. The writer of this news , Chile Olisa should engage in more meaningful news.