Below is the submission made by the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, in defence of himself over 16 allegations made against him by some whistleblowers who accused him of violating the bank's code of conduct.
From: Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank GroupI understand that the Ethics Committee will convene on April 9, 2020, in order to consider the anonymous January 19, 2020 Disclosure of Acts Related to Alleged Breach of the Code of Ethics by an Elected Officer to the attention of the Director of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department and the Chairpersons of the AUFI and Ethics Committees from a Group of Concerned Staff Members .
As the Committee undertakes its work, it may want to keep in mind certain Sections of the Bank’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Section 4.2, for example, provides that “complaints should be made in the reasonable belief that what is being reported is true.” Section 4.2 also provides that “concerns expressed anonymously shall be considered at the discretion of the Auditor General [here the Ethics Committee since this is a case that involves allegations against the President of the Bank].
The same may be true of others acting in concert with them. The point about others acting in concert with the whistleblowers is not speculation.
Allegation 10 accuses me of impropriety in connection with my acceptance of the World Food Prize and the Sunhak Peace Prize . I received these prizes in recognition of a life of accomplishments in the field of agriculture and although they were individual prizes, they brought great credit and prestige to the Bank. Vice President Pence of the United States saluted my selection for the World Food Prize, bestowed in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. See App. 15.
The whistleblowers also attempt to portray the World Food Prize event as a boondoggle for the President, his family and many Bank staff.
Second, Mr Fregene is a world-class geneticist, internationally renowned for his work on plant genetics of cassava, and who worked earlier at CIAT, Colombia, one of the CGIAR centres, and subsequently as Director at the Danforth Plant Science Center . He returned from the diaspora to Nigeria to work as Chief Technical Advisor when I was Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria.
The Disclosure also alleges that Mr Fregene travels often to the United States to see his family and that this is paid for by the Bank. This allegation is false. Several Bank staff have families outside of Africa and based on staff rules and policy, they find ways to take advantage of their leave days to be with their family when convenient. Further, the President does not sign travel authorizations for any Director or manager of the Bank.
There was no impropriety. The President does not get involved in contractual issues in the Bank, except in cases involving matters that may affect the image, reputation and interests of the Bank. The role of the President is to take decisions that are in the interest of the Bank. In this case, that is exactly what was done. The Auditor-General briefed me on the matter. He was equally briefed by the PIAC Director on the need to launch an investigation into the procurement issues.
Management made the decision to pay the company. And Management’s decision was the right and fair decision. And I am proud of my staff for making the decision in the interest of the Bank, a decision that I support and that flowed from a process that I was fully empowered under the articles of the Bank to establish to authorize the decisions.
Appointment of Mr Emmanuel EZINWA: The whistleblowers alleged that “A Nigerian, Mr EZINWA was found guilty of sexually harassing a colleague during his probation period. On the basis of this misconduct, the HR Director refused to confirm his contract at the end of the probation period.
Mr Monga: the allegation that somehow the former Chief Economist, Mr Monga, departed the Bank with improper payments is false. When staff departs the Bank they have entitlements. And his entitlements are well within what is allowed in the staff rules. The allegation that his departure was arranged as a way of avoiding discussion with the Board on removing the Chief Economist is also false. The President is required to consult with the Board, only for recruiting and releasing a Vice President.
On the allegation that Stella Kilonzo, the former Senior Director for AIF, resigned because the President asked her to give a prior consultancy contract to Chinelo Anolu, this is also false. Attached is a letter from Stella Kilozo that affirms that such a thing never happened . I also attach an email from her on her desire to leave the Bank due to personal family reasons .
Victor Oladokun, who reported to the hiring Vice President and also to the Acting Director for Communications – NOT to the President – delivered an impressive communications plan and results for the Bank that ensured a highly successful annual meeting for the Bank in India, on short notice, saving the Bank from what was about to become a huge reputation risk.
Mr Oladokun applied for the open, internationally advertised and competitive recruitment for the position of Director of Communications. The President was not part of the shortlisting committee nor was he part of the independent interview panel. The entire recruitment process was handled by a highly reputable external recruitment firm, Russel Reynolds, based in London, UK.
David Ssegawa: He was the HR Director. It is not true that I, as President, allowed him to resign when there was an investigation. There was absolutely no investigation of David Ssegawa when he resigned nor was one contemplated. Audit had raised the issue that there might be a conflict of interest in his award of contracts to a Kenya-based company.
I am humbled that the whole of Africa, without any exception, endorsed me for re-election. That African Presidents appreciate my passion, commitment, and high level of dedication to driving forward Africa’s agenda, as agreed to by the Africa Union and the Heads of State and governments. Their support is based on the results the Bank has achieved.
At a point, Ms N’Garnim-Ganga came to inform me that “there were new allegations that Mr Lufumpa had forged Bank chèques and that “if we can prove this we would have ‘got him’”. This she said in the presence of my Chief of Staff, Ms Mulindi. I immediately queried her why she would use such a term as “got him” and that this is now clearly like a witch-hunt.
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