Reps Want Afdb To Stop Investigating Adesina, Say Allegations Are Frivolous

…drum supports for his second term as AFDB President

The Lower Chamber of the Nigeria National Assembly, House of Representatives has urged the board of African Development Bank (AFDB) to halt all further investigation of the president, Akin Adesina, and let the rule of law prosper.

The House also endorsed Dr.Adesina’s campaign for a second term at the helm of Africa’s largest multilateral lender, and wish him a stable tenure ahead.

This followed a motion moved by the minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Jon. Ndudi Elumelu under matter of urgent matter of public importance on “Attempt To Tarnish the Image and Hard Earned Reputation of Dr Akinwumi Adesina President of African Development Bank (AFDB) On Trumpedup Allegations”during Tuesday plenary at the floor of House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The members of the parliament also urged the FGN to call on all African leaders to intervene and rally round him and see to the end of this lingering crisis.

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In the body of the motion presented by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Elumelu “the House notes that at a conference convened by the United nations economic commission for Africa (UNECA)in Khartoum, Sudan in August of 1963, an agreement was reached establishing the Afican Development Bank (AFDB) and the agreement was co-signed by 23 African governments including Nigeria.

“Further notes that in 1964 the agreement came into force with a mission of fighting poverty and standard of living on the African continent as well as promoting the investment of public and private capital through the implementation of projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the African Region.

“Aware that on the 8th of May 2015, a distinguished Nigeria and one time minister of agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was elected the presumptive president of the African development bank, emerging as the first Nigeria to hold this office.

“Further aware that the AFDB under the leadership of Dr Adesina has been. very remarkable in steering the organization and its presence highly visible and impactful in less than five years of his headship”.

The lawmakers expressed concern that recently a group of whistleblowers petitioned Dr Adesina accusing him of 16 breaches of the banks code of conduct, some of which; includes private gains, impediments to efficiency, preferential treatment and involvement in political activities, which Dr. Adesina has continued to deny.

The House added that the investigation by the ethics committee of the board of directors, the allegations were found to be, frivolous, unsubstantiated, lack merit and therefore exonerated Dr Adesina on all 16 allegations, the chairman 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.

They worried that though the ethic committee of the board of directors followed the established law governing AFDB in arriving at their decision in absolving Dr 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 Dr Adesina, whose tenure is due for renewal given the fact that he is the only contender to the office.

The Green chamber said “the House is disturbed that this interference portends a grave danger to the independence and laws governing the establishment of this organization and if not addressed will be tantamount to undermining the hard earned reputation of the bank.

“Troubled that this action may be an attempt to discredit Dr Adesina from seeking another term at the helm of Africa’s largest multilateral lender, former African leaders in their wisdom led by former president olusegun. Obasanjo and signed by Mother former African head of states and endorsed by 4 former African leaders issued a press statement showing the grave danger it portends to disregard the laws governing an institution such as the AFDB as well stating in clear terms that no nation no matter how powerful has a veto power over the African Development Bank.

“Further troubled that If this sort of witchhunt and unnecessary harassment is not put to check and discouraged, it may become a recurring decimal
thereby destabilizing the stability the bank has enjoyed for decades and the intended results on a steady decrease”.