AfDB Re-scrutiny: Adesina should be calm

President of the Africa Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, is in the eyes of the storm again, this time for the same reason for which he had been shortly ago. The factor that made this second issue emphatic however is the interest of the powerful United States government. The Board of Directors of the bank had caved in to the demand for another probe of Adesina strongly coming from the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Mnuchin. But what is the fear behind the rescheduling of this probe?

It is also worthy to understand the concerns and probable fears of Akinwunmi Adesina to have become subjected to another round of investigation on the same issue, especially when a panel of internal investigators have just cleared him. What do they want that they've failed to see in the initial  report?

It is also understandable, looking from the perspective of those who may feel that the internal body of investigators acted with a possible submissive influence and hence could have had their investigation somehow biased and defending of the bank's president, to call for another probe. No matter how it sound, rationally they also could be right.

But, then the integrity of the financial institution as a whole is at stake, and the failure to submit to a process that is seen to be fair and impartial would do more to eroding stakeholders' confidence. This is what Adesina must understand.

Dr Adesina must give in to the demand by the United States department of the Treasury to have a team of independent investigators take a second look at the allegations of unethical conducts levelled against him. He ought to accept this process going by the central disposition of the African Development Bank as a global institution.

For such issues he is accused of are not frivolous issues, but they are very critical in instilling or eroding the confidence of those who have interests with the AfDB. It is on this premise that Adesina should relax and watch as he is independently scrutinized without any perceived influenced.

In a more deeply motive, the carrying out of an ethical surgery on Adesina by the outside team of investigators would have done effective impact in bringing out Adesina as a man who came out clean and hence worthy of more responsibility and trust in the organization he leads and from the bank's stakeholders.

My prayer is that due process would be followed and high ethical standards followed by this team of independent investigators and may this double doze of scrutiny find Adesina robustly healthy and free of all allegations. Indeed, it will be sweet victory for the Nigerian agro-economist!