Akinwumi Adesina, president of the Africa Development Bank, has been exonerated of all charges by the independent review panel led by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, OBSERVERS TIMES report learnt.
OBSERVERS TIMES previously reported that Some whistleblower allegations of favouritism had been levelled against Adesina and although he had been cleared by the ethics committee of the bank, the US had requested for an independent investigation saying it was not satisfied with the report of the committee.
After the bank’s ethics committee found no evidence to support allegations of favoritism leveled against Adesina, the U.S called for an independent probe.
In a letter dated May 22, 2020 and addressed to Niale Kaba, who is chairperson of the AfDB’s Board of Governors, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said her country rejected plans by the AfDB’s board to end an investigation into its president.
Mnuchin also said the Treasury disagrees with findings by the bank’s ethics committee that “totally exonerated” Adesina.
In June, the bank said it will carry out an independent review of the report in line with due process.
In a statement, AfDB’s board of governors said it believed the bank’s ethics committee, which produced the report, had carried out its role correctly.
“The independent review shall be conducted by a neutral high caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity,” AfDB announced in a statement.
