Ibrahim Pam named acting Director-General of World Bank Accountability Office

The World Bank Group has appointed Nigerian lawyer and anti-corruption expert Ibrahim James Pam as the Acting Director-General of its Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), which is one of the accountability mechanisms in the institution.

The appointment of Mr. Pam was approved by the Boards of the World Bank Group and will take effect from August 2, 2026.

Ibrahim Pam is currently serving as Chairperson of the World Bank Inspection Panel and will hold the office of CAO on an acting basis until the World Bank Group appoints a new Director-General and Vice President of the World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism.

The news has been released in a press statement from the Head of Communications at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, Emily Horgan.

“In view of the forthcoming leadership transition at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the World Bank Group Boards have designated Ibrahim Pam, Chair of the Inspection Panel, to concurrently serve as acting CAO Director General, effective August 2, 2026,” the statement said.

“Mr. Pam will serve in this role until the new World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism Director General/Vice President is appointed.”

The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman is the independent accountability mechanism for projects financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), both members of the World Bank Group.

Created in 1999, the CAO reports directly to the Boards of IFC and MIGA and handles complaints from individuals and communities affected by projects supported by the two institutions, while promoting environmental and social accountability.

Pam brings extensive experience in international law, anti-corruption, compliance, human rights and criminal investigations to the role.

He is the son of the late Lt. Col. James Pam (MFR), a former Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, and Ngo Elizabeth Pam (OFR), a human rights advocate who served on the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, as well as the Plateau Peace Conference.

Over the years, Pam has built a distinguished international career investigating human rights violations, financial crimes, fraud, institutional misconduct and mass atrocities across several jurisdictions.

He has served as a member of the World Bank Inspection Panel since January 2023. Prior to that, he was Head ad interim of the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund in Songdo, South Korea, between August 2022 and March 2023, after leading the Fund’s Independent Integrity Unit from November 2016 to November 2022.

His professional experience also includes roles with the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), where he served as Resident Investigator with the UN Mission in South Sudan, the African Development Bank’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, and the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Earlier in his career, he provided legal support to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) between 2000 and 2002. History

A graduate of the University of Jos, Pam began his legal career at J.Y. Pam & Co. before working in private legal practice, the banking sector and later the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

While at the ICPC, he received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to earn a Master’s degree in International Law and Justice Policy from the London School of Economics in 2005.

Pam is married with children and grandchildren.

His appointment is expected to strengthen the World Bank Group’s accountability and oversight framework, given his extensive background in governance, integrity, compliance and international justice.