The Nigerian Government has expressed its support for embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
The government’s position was contained in a letter written by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and addressed to AfDB Board Chairman, Mrs. Kaba Niale.
In the letter dated May 28, Ahmed urged the AfDB board to discountenance calls by the US, supported by Denmark and Sweden, for an independent investigation of Adesina.
Adesina was accused of violating the bank’s code of ethics but after investigations by the bank’s ethics committee, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
However, the US government, through the US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin rejected the decision of the committee and called for an independent probe.
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In her letter, the Finance Minister, said the Nigerian government had followed the bank’s investigations and was satisfied with the verdict of the ethics committee.
Ahmed noted that the committee “followed the rules, laws, procedures and guidelines as laid down by the Resolution of the Board of Governors” in conducting its investigations.
She stated that “The call for an independent investigation of the president is outside of the laid down rules, procedures and governing system of the bank and its articles as it relates to the code of conduct on ethics for the president.”
The Minister listed some sterling achievements of Dr. Adesina, who is seeking a second term as President of the bank and urged support for him.
She stated further: “Honourable Minister, we commend the action you have taken and urge that the bank’s laid down process be followed to protect and preserve our bank.”
Recall also that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had written some former African leaders urging support for Adesina and a rejection of attempts by non regional members to hijack leadership of the bank.