An Independent Review Panel has
exonerated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi
Adesina, of any ethical wrongdoings.
exonerated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi
Adesina, of any ethical wrongdoings.
The panel was set up by AfDB Bureau of
Governors, following a complaint by the United States.
Governors, following a complaint by the United States.
It reviewed the process by which two
previous organs of the Bank – Ethics Committee of the Board and Bureau of the
Board of Governors – previously exonerated Adesina.
previous organs of the Bank – Ethics Committee of the Board and Bureau of the
Board of Governors – previously exonerated Adesina.
Former and serving African heads, led
by ex-Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, declared support for Adesina.
by ex-Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, declared support for Adesina.
Members of the panel were Mary
Robinson, former President, Republic of Ireland and ex-United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Gambia,
Hassan B. Jallow; and Leonard F. McCarthy, former Director of Public
Prosecutions and ex-Head, Directorate of Special Operations of South Africa.
Robinson, former President, Republic of Ireland and ex-United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Gambia,
Hassan B. Jallow; and Leonard F. McCarthy, former Director of Public
Prosecutions and ex-Head, Directorate of Special Operations of South Africa.
In January, sixteen allegations of
ethical misconduct were levelled against Adesina by a group of whistleblowers.
ethical misconduct were levelled against Adesina by a group of whistleblowers.
But after a review, the Bank’s Ethics
Committee, in March, described the allegations as “frivolous and without
merit.”
Committee, in March, described the allegations as “frivolous and without
merit.”
The findings and rulings were upheld
by the apex Bureau of the Board of Governors in May.
by the apex Bureau of the Board of Governors in May.
The report of the independent panel
states that it “concurs with the (Ethics) Committee in its findings in respect
of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly
considered and dismissed by the Committee.”
states that it “concurs with the (Ethics) Committee in its findings in respect
of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly
considered and dismissed by the Committee.”
The panel said it “considered the
President’s submissions on their face and finds them consistent with his
innocence and to be persuasive.”
President’s submissions on their face and finds them consistent with his
innocence and to be persuasive.”
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The decision clears the way for
Governors of the Bank to re-elect Adesina to a second five-year term as
President during annual meetings of the Bank scheduled for August 25 – 27.
Governors of the Bank to re-elect Adesina to a second five-year term as
President during annual meetings of the Bank scheduled for August 25 – 27.
The former Minister for Agriculture in
Nigeria, was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize in 2017 and the Sunhak
Peace Prize in 2019 for global leadership in agriculture and for good
governance.
Nigeria, was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize in 2017 and the Sunhak
Peace Prize in 2019 for global leadership in agriculture and for good
governance.
In AfDB, Adesina ensured of setting up
offices in several African nations to get closer to its clients.
offices in several African nations to get closer to its clients.
He oversaw the Africa Investment Forum
that has attracted $79 billion in investment interests into projects in Africa
between 2018 and 2019.
that has attracted $79 billion in investment interests into projects in Africa
between 2018 and 2019.
Adesina led a General Capital Increase
campaign that culminated in the Bank’s shareholders raising the institution’s
capital from $93 billion to $208 billion, in October 2019.
campaign that culminated in the Bank’s shareholders raising the institution’s
capital from $93 billion to $208 billion, in October 2019.
In June and July, Standard and Poors
and Fitch Ratings affirmed the ‘AAA’ rating of the AfDB, with stable outlook.
and Fitch Ratings affirmed the ‘AAA’ rating of the AfDB, with stable outlook.
The AfDB, under Adesina, launched a
$10 billion crisis response facility to boost African nations’ ability to
tackle the health and economic effects of COVID-19.
$10 billion crisis response facility to boost African nations’ ability to
tackle the health and economic effects of COVID-19.
