U.S. Misled To Seek Probe Of AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adesina– African Chamber VP

The U.S. Treasury Department is being misled to pressure  for fresh probe into allegations leveled against the African Development Bank President, Akinwunmi Adesina, by unnamed whistle blowers, the  Vice President, Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Adetokunbo Kayode, has said.

The AfDB Board had cleared Adesina of the allegations based on the findings of the Ethic Committee, but the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Steven Munchin, questioned the decision of the  Board.

Kayode said on Thursday  during  a virtual meeting on African post-pandemic recovery, that the United States needed to be engaged on the issue.

 “It is very sad that one of Africa’s best is being dragged around over what I will call a non-issue. The man was not accused of embezzling or diverting bank’s money. If anything, he increased the bank’s capitalisation and ensured investment in real sector to take the continent out of under-development. I read through the charges, his defence and the report of the Ethics Committee.

“I immediately concluded that somebody is misinforming Washington on the true state of things at the bank. Sincerely, I believe the American Treasury Secretary was misled to seek fresh probe of Adesina. We actually need to engage the Treasury Department on this matter. Washington is being misled to attack his own, an American trained scholar who has protected American interest so far by stabilising Africa in developmental funding. If not for AfDB and Adesina, China would have fully taken over Africa in the area of infrastructure financing. AfDB provides the developmental funding, giving Africa alternatives,” he said.

He said a  lot was being done by African leaders to engage Washington on the issue.

“Several African leaders with foot in Washington have intervened. I read a letter by friends of President Trump in Nigeria, urging him to step into the matter. That is also good. From the private sector chamber movement, we are also wading into the matter, calling on the US Chamber of Commerce to intervene. We are sending correspondence soon. It is in the interest of Africa and the Western world for Adesina to remain as President,” he added.

Kayode called for the U.S. to prioritise the achievements of Adesina within the five years of his stay as the AfDB president.