In Benin, this Tuesday, July 7, was the first day of the Economic Crimes Tribunal (CRIET) court for the mayor of Abomey-Calavi, the second most important municipality in the south after Cotonou. Georges Bada, an influential member of the Patrice Talon majority, is on trial for a land planning case. He is charged with “abuse of office, fraud and criminal association”. With him 28 co-defenders including several local elected representatives. He has been in prison for almost seven months.
as reported from Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan
At the helm, Mayor Georges Bada, vest, black mask, jeans and sneakers, seemed outstretched. He does not stand for long and sits on a chair. Together with several local elected representatives, they are accused of having, on an enforceable court decision and on instructions from the head of department, allocated 39 hectares of land to a lady to compensate her after an expropriation. Disturbing details noted by prosecutor Mario Métonou: several local elected officials have become owners of the plots granted to the lady.
The city’s development association competes on the grounds that the recipient made a false statement. The association arrested a judge who asked to suspend the enforcement of the court decision.
The debates went to the bottom and the line of defense for advice from the former mayor is summarized by Me Filibert Toyidè Béhanzin. “The administrative acts that our client has taken are acts performed in good faith, with the task of respecting the instructions of his superior and of respecting a court decision. My client is innocent, the various testimonies will consolidate me in this position. ”
The hearing is postponed until July 13 in the presence of Georges Bada’s guardianship of the facts.
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