Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU467
2009-09-30 01:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN: SUSPENDED MINISTER OF URBANISM RESUMES OFFICE
how-toVZCZCXRO7586 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0467 2730126 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 300126Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1136 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1525 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0474
UNCLAS COTONOU 000467
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT; AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SUSPENDED MINISTER OF URBANISM RESUMES OFFICE
REF: COTONOU 431 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS COTONOU 000467
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT; AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SUSPENDED MINISTER OF URBANISM RESUMES OFFICE
REF: COTONOU 431 AND PREVIOUS
1. During a Council of Ministers on September 17, the Government of
Benin cleared the Minister of Urbanism, Francois Noudegbessi of any
malfeasance connected with the high-profile CEN-SAD corruption case
(see refs). He was cleared to resume office. On July 10, the
government had suspended Noudegbessi to enable the Investigative
Committee to interview him in connection with the "CEN-SAD scandal".
2. The September 17 Council of Ministers' decision is based on the
reports of both the State Audit Office (IGE) and the Investigative
Committee which have both denied any implication of Noudegbessi in
the CEN-SAD corruption case.
3. Because of increasing accusations by the opposition that
President Yayi is protecting Noudegbessi whereas he has accused the
Minister of Economy and Finance, Soule Mane Lawani of involvement in
the case, President Yayi instructed an Independent Investigative
Committee to investigate the CEN-SAD case following IGE's initial
report. IGE and the Investigative Committee's findings have no
prosecutorial character since these are administrative
investigations. The court will use the reports to pursue legal
action against accused officials.
BOUSTANI
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT; AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SUSPENDED MINISTER OF URBANISM RESUMES OFFICE
REF: COTONOU 431 AND PREVIOUS
1. During a Council of Ministers on September 17, the Government of
Benin cleared the Minister of Urbanism, Francois Noudegbessi of any
malfeasance connected with the high-profile CEN-SAD corruption case
(see refs). He was cleared to resume office. On July 10, the
government had suspended Noudegbessi to enable the Investigative
Committee to interview him in connection with the "CEN-SAD scandal".
2. The September 17 Council of Ministers' decision is based on the
reports of both the State Audit Office (IGE) and the Investigative
Committee which have both denied any implication of Noudegbessi in
the CEN-SAD corruption case.
3. Because of increasing accusations by the opposition that
President Yayi is protecting Noudegbessi whereas he has accused the
Minister of Economy and Finance, Soule Mane Lawani of involvement in
the case, President Yayi instructed an Independent Investigative
Committee to investigate the CEN-SAD case following IGE's initial
report. IGE and the Investigative Committee's findings have no
prosecutorial character since these are administrative
investigations. The court will use the reports to pursue legal
action against accused officials.
BOUSTANI