AfDB Probe: How Some Board of Governors Voted Against Nigeria’s Adesina

Facts have emerged that some Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) did not absolve its President, Akinwumi Adesina of wrong-doing following corruption allegation leveled against him by insider whistle-blowers.

Adesina, who is a sole candidate for re-election has an overwhelming support from African stakeholders but he is being resisted by United States America who has the second largest shareholding in the continental body.

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While the Bureau of Board of Governors accepted report of the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors, the governing body has allowed a review of the Committee decision “based on the views of some Governors on the matter and the need to carry every Governor along in resolving it”, statement by the AfDB has said.

The Bureau of Board of Governors said its Chairperson did not err by accepting the decision of the Ethics Committee.  It said the Board performed its role on this matter in accordance with the applicable rule under Resolution B/BG/2008/1 1 of the Board of Governors.

The Bureau also reiterates that the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors performed her role in accepting the findings of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the said Resolution.

“However, based on the views of some Governors on the matter and the need to carry every Governor along in resolving it, the Bureau agrees to authorize an Independent Review of the Report of the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors relative to the allegations considered by the Ethics Committee and the submissions made by the President of the Bank Group thereto in the interest of due process.

The Independent Review shall be conducted by a neutral high caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity within a short-time period of not more than two to four weeks maximum, taking the Bank Group’s electoral calendar into account.

The Bureau agrees that, within a three to six month period and following the independent review of the Ethics Committee Report, an independent comprehensive review of the implementation of the Bank Group’s Whistle-Blowing and Complaints Handling Policy should be conducted with a view to ensuring that the Policy is properly implemented, and revising it where necessary, to avoid situations of this nature in the future”, the statement read.