Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigerian Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed criticize and reject the request of the United States of America (USA) to pressure the African Development Bank (AfDB) to open a new independent investigation against the bank's president,  Akinwumi Adesina.

For their release, Obasanjo and Zainab Ahmed, in separate letters, said that the independent investigation does not respect the rules of the bank.

Criticism and appeal of Obasanjo

In his position in this case, Obasanjo wrote that what the U.S. Treasury Secretary wants is outside of the Bank's "laws, procedures, and governance systems."

In an effort to unite against the U.S. initiative for a new investigation, Obasanjo took steps to bring together former African leaders to issue a joint statement rejecting the U.S. request for a new investigation after the bank's ethics committee exonerated Adesina of the allegations. of some whistleblowers.

Sharply criticizing the US request, the former Nigerian president said that the US Treasury Secretary has denigrated and ridiculed the Bank's entire governance system and warned that if leaders do not stand up to defend the AfDB "it could signify the end of the African Development Bank because its governance will be diverted from Africa."

As a solution to this case at the AfDB Summit , Obasanjo proposes that African leaders consult and collectively issue a statement to support the procedures established to assess the allegations against the President of the Bank and recommend that the Board of Governors as well as the Bank's Ethics Committee hold firmly by their process and results.

Position of the Nigerian Minister of Finance

The Nigerian Minister of Finance, in another letter, addressed to the Chair of the AfDB Board of Directors, Ms. Kaba Niale, stated that from the moment the Ethics Committee exonerated Adesina from the whistleblowers' allegations, it is superfluous to open another investigation.

Ms Zainab Ahmed ruled that "the Ethics Committee has conducted and completed its work in accordance with the rules, laws, procedures and guidelines set out in the resolution of the Governing Council. This resolution invites the Ethics Committee to submit its report and supporting documents to the Chair of the Governing Council."

For all, Ms. Zainab Ahmed urged the board of directors to reject the call for a new investigation as it goes against the bank's governance rules.

At the origin of this case, the United States, one of the main shareholders of the AfDB, is calling for a thorough independent investigation after whistleblower denunciations. The crisis that has emerged concerns a series of violations of recruitment, remuneration and procurement rules.

Akinwumi Adesina, is a former Nigerian minister and Africa's only candidate for the post of AfDB President. His candidacy was approved by ECOWAS and the African Union. He is initially expected to be re-elected for a second term on 29 May. The election is postponed until the end of August.