Akinwumi Adesina reelected as AfDB president

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina emergence for second term has been seen by stakeholders internationally as a significant success for Nigeria and supporters of the AFDB President,

Gentechnews had earlier reported that the bank’s Ethics’ Committee, which initially examined the allegations against him, gave him a clean bill that was acknowledged by the Board of Governors, yet the United States dismissed the report and requested a new investigation by an independent body.

The investigative panel set up to review the US-led dismissal of the ethics committee report also absolved him all allegations.

The panel said, “The Panel is mindful of the fact that the ‘absence of evidence is not evidence of absence’. At the same time, it appears to us to be an undue burden to expect a holder of high office in an international organization, to prove a negative, in the absence of sufficient grounds. An attorney writing on behalf of the President, also argues quite correctly in our view, that a distinction should be drawn between alleged institutional failure at the Bank and the conduct of the president.”

The board of three specialists, led by Robinson alongside Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the World Bank’s uprightness VP Leonard McCarthy, found Adesina not guilty claimed by informants.

“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,” Monday’s report closed.

Robinson, who drove Ireland from 1990 to 1997 preceding filling in as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002, excused the 16 informant charges against Adesina.

Meanwhile, the Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has congratulated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina on his re-election by the Board of Governors of the Bank.

He noted in a statement issued on Thursday that he was proud of Dr Adesina because he has remained consistent as a man of vision and considerable capacity; traits he generously put to use while serving as a key member of our administration’s economic team and minister of agriculture.

Jonathan added: “His first term as President of AfDB brought about exemplary leadership, significant achievements and broken records, especially with the bank’s recent unprecedented capital increase by 125% to $208 billion.

“With his re-election and focus on infrastructural development, youth empowerment and regional integration, I believe that AfDB will continue to strongly reflect the voice, vision and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Bank.

“I urge him to deploy his astute managerial skill to ensure that the positive impact of the Bank’s development initiatives is felt across the continent.”