US urges probe into alleged ethics breach at African Development Bank

The US Department of the Treasury has called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to carry out an independent probe into alleged ethics breaches by its president, Akinwumi Adesina.

In a letter obtained by AFP on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressed “deep reservations” about the outcome of an internal inquiry clearing Adesina, and urged the appointment of an independent outside investigator. 

The letter, dated 22 May, was sent to the chair of the AfDB’s board, Ivorian Planning and Development Minister Niale Kaba.

Adesina is seeking a second five-year term at the helm of the AfDB, one of the world’s five largest multilateral development banks.

Alleged embezzlement, nepotism

Whistleblowers last month submitted a 15-page report to bank governors detailing alleged embezzlement, preferential treatment for fellow Nigerians in senior appointments and the promotion of people suspected or convicted of fraud and corruption. 

The bank’s ethics committee totally exonerated Adesina, saying the complaint “rested on no objective, solid facts”.

Adesina himself has dismissed the allegations as “spurious and unfounded” and “blatantly false.”

A former Nigerian agriculture minister, Adesina, 60, is the only candidate in an election which was set for late May but which has been postponed to August because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

He has received the backing of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In October 2019, the AfDB raised $115 billion (105 billion euros) in fresh capital, an operation deemed a personal success for Adesina.

The bank had been shaken by a series of high-level departures soon after his arrival, with complaints of Adesina’s “authoritarian” leadership style.

‘Outside investigator’

In his letter to the board of governors, Mnuchin said: “We urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing.”

He added: “We fear that wholesale dismissal of all allegations without appropriate investigation will tarnish the reputation of this institution as one that does not uphold high standards of ethics and governance.

“This is a serious risk when we need strong confidence in the AfDB to play an influential role in the current global economic and health crisis, and when many shareholders are seeking legislative support for payments under the recently-concluded General Capital Increase.”

Adesina is the first Nigerian president of the AfDB, in which Nigeria is the top stakeholder with nine percent. 

Mnuchin’s letter came after the whistleblowers called for an independent inquiry after their complaint gained no traction.

The internal probe was tainted by “irregularities and manipulations”, a group of anonymous “concerned staff members of the AfDB” said in a letter to bank governors.

The AfDB did not immediately react publicly to the letter.

The bank has 80 state shareholders, 54 of which are African. The others are from the Americas, Asia and Europe. 

An Ivorian economist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the letter was a clear sign of US “intentions to get Adesina out.”

But, warned the economist, “if the United States disowns Adesina, the AfDB’s credibility and reputation with international investors will come into question. You can’t win a tug-of-war with the United States.”

The source added, though, “Adesina has also made plenty of enemies in his managerial style at the bank.”

An AfDB executive told AFP: “The president has too much power. He appoints whoever he wants. Too many managers have left in the last five years.” 

“Far-reaching reform is needed to curb his power,” the executive said, who asked not to be named.

By Agence France-Presse (AFP)