US has right to call for fresh AfDB probe – Natasha Akpoti

Natasha Akpoti

Former Kogi governorship candidate, Natasha Akpoti, says the United States has the right to call for fresh probe on activities of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its president, Akinwumi Adesina.

The US, she said in a tweet on Friday, having the second largest voting right as a shareholder in the bank after Nigeria, has rights to call for investigation.

She wrote: “United States has d 2nd largest voting right as a shareholder & has every right to demand investigation.

“If Africa doesn’t like #America’s interference, then #AfDB should be funded solely by African countries.”

The US called for independent probe after the AfDB ethics committee cleared Adesina, a former minister of agriculture, of the allegations raised by whistleblowers.

Adesina was accused of giving contracts to acquaintances, appointing relatives and friends to strategic positions, and giving preferential treatment to Nigeria and Nigerians among other claims.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, on Thursday opposed the decision of the bank’s board to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also expressed his disapproval of the development.