Headlines
African Development Bank President Blows Hot, He Vowed To Remain In Office
It has become a mild drama between the United States Government and the African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina over allegation of abuse of office.
Brandnewsday reports that Adesina in a press statement responded to the fresh independent probe set up to investigates him on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Saying unprecedented attempts by some people to tarnish his reputation and stated that he would continue to work with all the shareholders.
The African Development Bank President disclosed that he is confident enough that a fair and transparent probe would eventually prove his innocence.
The former Nigeria Minister for Agriculture is currently facing a probe by some board members who disclosed that he misused his office as the AfDB president.
Adesina, who is the first Nigerian to lead the largest multilateral financial institution in Africa and among the top 5 in the world, had previously dismissed the allegations as spurious, unfounded, and blatantly false. The allegations from the whistleblowers border on claims of giving contracts to acquaintances, appointing friends and relatives to strategic positions, amongst others.
AfDB President, Adesina response:
Adesina said: “I maintain my innocence with regard to trumped-up allegations that unjustly seek to impugn my honour and integrity, as well as the reputation of the African Development Bank.
“I am confident that fair, transparent and just processes that respect the rules, procedures and governance systems of the bank, and rule of law, will ultimately prove that I have not violated the code of ethics of this extraordinary institution.”
The AfDB boss also cited his heroes, Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, whose lives proved that human beings can grow through the pain.
#UPDATE The president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, hit back at accusations of corruption and vowed to continue working https://t.co/FGtkKj5WgS
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 27, 2020
AfDB Saga: US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin Claims
The U.S treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, in a letter to the AfDB board, expressed serious concerns about the questionable internal investigation and hurried dismissal of the allegations by the ethics committee of the bank. He thereby called for an independent inquiry into the matter, having feared that dismissing the allegations without appropriate investigation would tarnish the reputation of the bank.
In the meantime, it appears that the AfDB President has the support of some leading African countries including Nigeria and South Africa, as he canvasses vote for a second term in office.
