AfDB : Adesina maintains innocence despite US’s  call for probe

In spite United States’ call for an independent probe of the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the AfDB president has maintained that he is innocent.

US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, in a May 22 communication to the bank said the Treasury disagrees with the findings of the AfDB ethics committee that exonerated Adesina.

However, Adesina in a press statement  on Wednesday which he personally signed, stated: “In recent weeks and over the last few days especially, I have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support received from around the world. I have absolute confidence in the integrity of the Bank that I lead and its governance systems, rules and procedures.”

He spoke further:  “ln spite of unprecedented attempts by some to tarnish my reputation and prejudice the Bank’s governance procedures, I maintain my innocence with regard to trumped up allegations that unjustly seek to impugn my honour and integrity, as well as the reputation of the African Development Bank.

“I sincerely appreciate the support of the Bank’s shareholders.

“At this time, I remain confident that ultimately and as one collective, the Bank will emerge stronger than before and continue to support Africa’s development drive. I draw great inspiration from my heroes, Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, whose lives have shown that through pain we grow.

“As Martin Luther King Jnr. once said, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’

“I am confident that fair, transparent and just processes that respect the rules, procedures and governance systems of the Bank, and the rule of law, will ultimately prove that I have not violated the Code of Ethics of this extraordinary institution.

“I will, therefore, continue to work with each and every one of our shareholders to ensure that the African Development Bank maintains its hard-earned global reputation; and that our credible and well-functioning institutional and governance systems are reinforced, as we collectively press on to fulfil the mission of our founders to accelerate and transform Africa’s development.”

The US Treasury is the AfDB’s biggest non-African shareholder.