Benin's Interior Minister says two ministry officials took money to speed a new party's registration receipt; both are detained and charged
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What happened
On May 15, 2025, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said an internal alert had revealed that two officials of his ministry (from the Directorate of Political Parties and Electoral Affairs and the Directorate of Internal Affairs and Worship) were involved in a corruption scheme tied to the provisional receipt for the new party Le Libéral. He suspended them and ordered the Republican Police and the Economic and Financial Brigade to arrest them and the party founder, Richard Boni Ouorou. The CRIET special prosecutor said Ouorou handed over 7 million CFA francs in three installments (1 million before the April 5, 2025 congress, 3 million each on April 26 and 28); the director told investigators he received only 5 million. Ouorou admits giving money but denies it was to obtain a service, saying it was paid after the receipt was issued. The three were charged with corruption of a public official and placed in pretrial detention on May 21-22, 2025; the offense carries 5 to 10 years. No trial has been reported and all three are presumed innocent.
By the numbers (1)
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- La Nouvelle Tribune
Richard Boni Ouorou déposé en prison pour corruption.
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Response
Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.
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What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.