The embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina has been cleared of corruption allegations, by an independent panel of experts, headed by former Irish President Mary Robinson.
The panel of three experts, led by Robinson alongside Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the World Bank’s integrity vice president Leonard McCarthy, cleared Adesina of all charges alleged by whistleblowers, who released 16 allegations against him earlier this year claiming that under his watch the bank had been ravaged by poor governance, impunity, personal enrichment, and favouritism.
The report by the independent panel reads: “The Panel concurs with the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the Committee.”
The clearance of Akinwumi Adesina by the independent panel paves the way for him to contest the August election in which he is the sole candidate running for a second 5-year term.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Ethics Committee, which first investigated the allegations, cleared Adesina. However, the United States declined the report and demanded a new probe by an independent body.
The board of directors which endorsed the report of the Ethics Committee granted the demands of the United States and established an independent panel that has now cleared him.
