The Bureau of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has authorised an independent review of the report of the ethics committee of the board of directors and submission made by the bank’s president, Akinwumi Adesina.
The bureau made the resolution in a communiqué issued by the chairperson of the bureau, Niale Kaba, after their meeting on Thursday.
This follows pressure from the US Department of Treasury for an independent probe of corruption allegations levelled against Adesina after being cleared by the bank’s ethics committee.
According to the communiqué, the bureau re-emphasised that it agreed that the ethics committee of the board of directors performed its role on this matter in accordance with the applicable role under resolution B/BG/2008/11 of the board of Governors.
It also stated that the chairperson of the bureau performed her role in accepting the findings of the ethics committee in accordance with the said resolution.
According to the communiqué, the bureau arrived at the decision based on views of some governors on the matter to carry every member along in resolving it.
“The independent review shall be conducted by a neutral high calibre individuals 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’s group electoral calendar into account,” the communiqué read.
“The bureau agrees that within a three to six months period, and following the independent review of the ethics committee report, an independent comprehensive review of the implementation of the bank’s group whistleblowing and complaint.
“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 future.”
