By East Africa
Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the outgoing President of African Development Bank (AfDB), has described as “spurious and unfounded’’ allegations by emanating from dissenting staff.
The second term seeking President is battling internal wrangles following some employees’ allegations of multiple abuses and breaches of the bank’s code of ethics.
Adesina said he would not be distracted from discharging his mandate of leading the institution.
“I will stay calm and resolute. I will not be distracted. No amount of lies can ever cover up the truth. Soon the truth will come out,” he said in a statement.
However, a communication by a group of concerned staff members has exposed deeply-rooted internal wrangles ignited by discontent with Dr Adesina’s leadership style that they contend is characterised by disregard of the bank’s rules.
In the communication addressed to the bank’s governors, the staff accuse Dr Adesina of breaching the bank’s code of conduct, unethical conduct, private gain, impediment to efficiency, preferential treatment, adversely affecting confidence in the integrity of the bank and involvement in political activity.
“Our objective is to trigger investigations that will confirm or infirm these alleged cases of breach by the president of the code of conduct and so encourage ethical action and discourage or prevent fraud, corruption or misconduct and increase accountability,” says the communication.
The staff accuse Dr Adesina of lack of respect of internal rules and regulations in recruitment and went ahead to highlight numerous cases of nepotism and favourism.
According to the staff, although they filed the complaints in January to the bank’s ethics and audit committee in line with its whistle-blowing policy, no action was taken.
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