FIC boss resigns from NIP, Namdia boards amid ‘conflict’ claims
Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) head Bryan Eiseb has resigned as chairperson of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) and Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia) boards of directors, amid calls that he relinquish all board jobs due to the sensitivity of his substantive job as the country’s financial gatekeeper.
Finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi had often been urged to withdraw Eiseb from the boards of public enterprises after the latter ascended to heading FIC in August 2023. FIC is mandated to assist with combatting money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation.
Shiimi yesterday dismissed suggestions that he has been shielding Eiseb, who only resigned from the board jobs six months after taking over the reins at FIC. His resignations are effective 31 March.
In good faith
Reacting to the claims, Shiimi said he had a sound understanding of corporate governance, and would in no way unethically shield Eiseb.
“I believe Mr Eiseb and I are ethical people and have a good understanding of corporate governance. Hence the decision for him to resign from those two boards in a responsible manner. As you can see from his letter, he resigned before this issue was raised in Parliament. There is therefore no truth in the assertion that I protected him,” he said when contacted for comment.
Instead, Shiimi told Namibian Sun that Eiseb acted in good faith when he communicated his planned resignation from both the NIP and Namdia boards.
Eiseb plans to tender his resignation to Namdia when that company’s board convenes for a meeting next week, Namibian Sun can confirm.
“I will inform my fellow board members at NIP [on 18 March] during the board meeting and Namdia next week during the board meeting,” Eiseb said in a message to Shiimi.
Smooth transition
Eiseb explained his resignation from the NIP board, saying while he intended to serve out the entire term of his contract as board chairperson, FIC required his undivided attention.
“I hereby tender my resignation from NIP and Namdia, effective 31 March, to facilitate a smooth transition. I have been appointed to these boards for an initial period of three years and have served such terms, whereafter I was reappointed for another three-year term. I had fully intended to complete the second term of office; however, the demands of my new position as the director of the FIC requires my undivided attention,” he wrote in his resignation letter to the minister.
In the National Assembly recently, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) lawmaker Epafras Mukwiilongo asked Shiimi whether Eiseb’s directorship of both the NIP and Namdia boards was not in conflict with his current role.
Eiseb did not respond when queried why he only resigned recently, despite being appointed as FIC boss six months ago.
Finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi had often been urged to withdraw Eiseb from the boards of public enterprises after the latter ascended to heading FIC in August 2023. FIC is mandated to assist with combatting money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation.
Shiimi yesterday dismissed suggestions that he has been shielding Eiseb, who only resigned from the board jobs six months after taking over the reins at FIC. His resignations are effective 31 March.
In good faith
Reacting to the claims, Shiimi said he had a sound understanding of corporate governance, and would in no way unethically shield Eiseb.
“I believe Mr Eiseb and I are ethical people and have a good understanding of corporate governance. Hence the decision for him to resign from those two boards in a responsible manner. As you can see from his letter, he resigned before this issue was raised in Parliament. There is therefore no truth in the assertion that I protected him,” he said when contacted for comment.
Instead, Shiimi told Namibian Sun that Eiseb acted in good faith when he communicated his planned resignation from both the NIP and Namdia boards.
Eiseb plans to tender his resignation to Namdia when that company’s board convenes for a meeting next week, Namibian Sun can confirm.
“I will inform my fellow board members at NIP [on 18 March] during the board meeting and Namdia next week during the board meeting,” Eiseb said in a message to Shiimi.
Smooth transition
Eiseb explained his resignation from the NIP board, saying while he intended to serve out the entire term of his contract as board chairperson, FIC required his undivided attention.
“I hereby tender my resignation from NIP and Namdia, effective 31 March, to facilitate a smooth transition. I have been appointed to these boards for an initial period of three years and have served such terms, whereafter I was reappointed for another three-year term. I had fully intended to complete the second term of office; however, the demands of my new position as the director of the FIC requires my undivided attention,” he wrote in his resignation letter to the minister.
In the National Assembly recently, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) lawmaker Epafras Mukwiilongo asked Shiimi whether Eiseb’s directorship of both the NIP and Namdia boards was not in conflict with his current role.
Eiseb did not respond when queried why he only resigned recently, despite being appointed as FIC boss six months ago.
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