BENIN: SUSPENDED MINISTER OF URBANISM RESUMES OFFICE

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