The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the board of the African Development Bank to disregard a call for fresh investigation into allegations of ethical misconduct against the bank’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.
The call followed a motion moved by the Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, titled, “Attempts to Tarnish the Image and Hard-Earned Reputation of Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank on Trumped-Up Allegations.”
Elumelu recalled that former African leaders, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had issued a press statement, pointing out the grave danger inherent in disregarding the laws governing an institution such as the AfDB.
He said, “The House is concerned that recently, a group of whistleblowers petitioned Dr Adesina, accusing him of 16 breaches of the bank’s code of conduct, some of which include private gains, impediments to efficiency, preferential treatment and involvement in political activities, which Adesina has continued to deny.
“The House is further concerned that after an investigation by the ethics committee of the board of directors, the allegations were found to be frivolous, unsubstantiated, lacking in merit and, therefore, exonerated Adesina on all 16 allegations.”
According to him, the chairman (of the) board of governors, being satisfied that the committee had done a thorough job, having followed all known rules and procedures of the bank in handling such cases, declared Adesina exonerated.
Elumelu further stated, “The House is worried that though the ethics committee of the board of directors followed the established law governing the AfDB in arriving at their decision in absolving Adesina of the allegations, the United States’ Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in a letter to the Chairperson of the bank, Niale Koba, rejected the verdict of the committee and called for an independent investigation into the allegations against Adesina, whose tenure is due for renewal, given the fact that he is the only contender to the office….
“The House is further troubled that if this sort of witch-hunt and unnecessary harassment is not put to check and discouraged, it may become a recurring decimal, thereby destabilising the stability the bank has enjoyed for decades and the intended results on a steady decrease.”
While unanimously adopting the motion, the legislators called on African leaders 5o intervene in the matter.
