Nigeria – The African Bank of Development (AfDB) leader Akinwumi Adesina has been cleared of corruption by an independent probe, reported the AFP news agency.
The independent panel of experts is headed by former Irish President Mary Robinson and Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow as well as the World Bank’s integrity vice president Leonard McCarthy.
The agency was quoted in a report saying that Adesina was cleared of all charges that were alleged by unnamed employees.
Adesina, a former Nigerian finance minister, was accused of poor governance, impunity, personal enrichment and favouritism. Allegations he has denied.
He was initially cleared in an internal investigation but US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin personally signed a letter to the board rejecting the outcome.
The US is one of the 27 non-regional members of the AfDB and its second largest shareholder.
“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,” quoted the AFP report.
