Adesina To Face Another Independent Probe From AfBD Board Of Governors

The Bureau of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank, AfBD, has authorized an independent probe into allegations of misconduct leveled against its President, Akinwunmi Adesina.

The decision which was contained in a communique issued on Thursday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, regarding the whistle-blowers’ complaint against the President of the Bank.

BIGPEN recalls that the United States government had also demanded that a fresh and in-depth investigation, using independent investigator be conducted on the allegations against the bank’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors of the bank had earlier cleared and given Adesina a clean bill of health from all the allegations.

The board, in the communique said that it agreed 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

“The Bureau reiterates that it agrees that the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors performed its role on this matter in accordance with the applicable rule under Resolution B/BG/2008/11 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”.