The House of Representatives on tuesday moved in favour of a motion asking African leaders to intervene in the alleged breach of code of conduct in the African development bank AFDB.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moves by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu who expressed concerns that if urgent steps are not taken, Mr Adesina Akinwunmi will loose his second term as the president of the AFDB.
Rep. Elumelu said “the house notes that at a conference convened by the United nations economic commission for Africa (UNECA)in Khartoum, Sudan in August of 1963, an agreement was reached establishing the Afican Development Bank (AFDB) and the agreement was co-signed by 23 African governments including Nigeria”.
“Further notes that in 1964 the agreement came into force with a mission of fighting poverty and standard of living on the African continent as well as promoting the investment of public and private capital through the implementation of projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the African Region.”
“Aware that on the 8th of may 2015, a distinguished Nigeria and one time minister of agriculture Dr Akinwumi Adesina was elected the presumptive president of the African development bank and being the first Nigeria to hold such office”
“Further aware that the AFDB under the leadership of Dr Adesina has been very remarkable in steering the organization and its presence highly visible and impactful in less than five years of his headship”
the lawmaker is concerned that recently a group of whistleblowers petitioned Dr Adesina accusing him of 16 breaches of the banks code of conduct, some of which includes private gains, impediments to efficiency, preferential treatment and involvement in political activities, which Dr Adesina has continued to deny.
“Further concerned that on investigation by the ethics committee of the board of directors, the allegations were found to be frivolous, unsubstantiated, lack merit and therefore exonerated Dr Adesina on all 16 allegations, the chairman board of governors being satisfied that the committee had done a thorough job having followed all known rules and procedures of the bank in handling such cases declared Adesina exonerated”
“Worried that though the ethic committee of the board of directors followed the established law governing AFDB in arriving at their decision in absolving Dr Adesina of the allegations, the United states treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin in a letter to the chairperson of the bank, Niale Koba, rejected the verdict of the committee and called for an independent investigation into the allegations against Dr Adesina, whose tenure is due for renewal given the fact that he is the only contender to the office”.
Rep. Elumelu is disturbed that the interference portends a grave danger to the independence and laws governing the establishment of this organization and if not addressed will be tantamount to undermining the hard earned reputation of the bank.
“Troubled that this action may be an attempt to discredit Dr Adesina from seeking another term at the helm of Africa’s largest multilateral lender, former African leaders in their wisdom led by former president olusegun Obasanjo and signed by 11other former African head of states and endorsed by 4 former African leaders issued a press statement showing the grave danger it portends to disregard the laws governing an institution such as the AFDB as well stating in clear terms that no nation no matter how powerful has a veto power over the African Development Bank.”
Further troubled that if this sort of witchhunt and unnecessary harassment is not put to check and discouraged, it may become a recurring decimal thereby destabilizing the stability the bank has enjoyed for decades and the intended results on a steady decrease.
The parliament is Urging the board of AFDB to halt further harassing of the president of AFDB
Also it is Mandating the ecowas parliament and pan African parliament to investigate the matter and resolve same and thereafter report to the house within reasonable time.
In addition, the federal government of Nigeria is to call on all African leaders to intervene.
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