AfDB: Adesina Fights for His Life, Rubbishes Allegations Of Corruption

The President of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Wednesday, came out strongly to put the lie to allegations of corruption levelled against him.

Adesina’s rebuttal was contained in a statement he personally signed and issued on Wednesday.

The Nigerian-born world-acclaimed technocrat said the allegations were the handwork of antagonists who were hellbent on tarnishing his hard-earned reputation.

The United States Department of Treasury had demanded an independent probe of allegations of corruption, embezzlement and favouritism levelled against Adesina despite having been declared clean by the bank’s ethics committee.

Adesina, the first Nigerian to be Chief Executive of the AfDB, has persisted with his claims that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing, and he never violated the bank’s Code of Ethics.

He said, “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.

“In 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 honor 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.”