Homepage

Benin Accuses Former Minister, Businessman of Plotting Coup with CFA1.5bn

Benin Accuses Former Minister, Businessman of Plotting Coup with CFA1.5bn
Thursday, 26 September 2024 11:08

(Ecofin Agency) - In a new statement, CRIET special prosecutor Mario Metonou confirmed that former minister Oswald Homeky, the Republican Guard commander, and businessman Olivier Boko were arrested for attempting a coup.

Benin’s former Sports Minister Oswald Homeky, businessman Olivier Boko, and the head of the Republican Guard were arrested on the night of September 23-24, 2024. The arrests were announced in a statement by Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (CRIET).

According to the prosecutor, the three men are accused of plotting to overthrow President Patrice Talon. "Initial investigations show that the commander of the Republican Guard, responsible for the president's security, was approached by Minister Oswald Homeky on behalf of himself and Mr. Olivier Boko to carry out a coup on September 27, 2024. In this context, a bank account was opened on August 6, 2024, at NSIA Banque Côte d'Ivoire in the commander's name, with an initial deposit of CFA105 million," the statement said.

2patrice talon 0

The document also revealed that former minister Homeky and the Republican Guard commander, Dieudonné Tévoedjré, were arrested while the latter was receiving "six bags filled with cash." CFA1.5 billion (about $2.5 million) was reportedly involved in the coup attempt.

1patrice talon 0 copy

This announcement comes just over a year before Benin's next presidential election in April 2026. President Patrice Talon, now ineligible to run due to constitutional limits, has stated he will not seek re-election. Speculation about his successor has been circulating, with some rumors pointing to his close friend, Olivier Boko. Homeky, who resigned from his ministerial position last year, publicly supported Boko's potential candidacy.

Patrice Talon, a cotton magnate and former ally of ex-President Boni Yayi, came to power in 2016. Four years earlier, he was accused by Yayi of attempted poisoning, but the case was dismissed.

"The investigation is ongoing to identify everyone involved. I will provide updates as the process unfolds," concluded prosecutor Mario Metonou in his statement.

 
 
 
Most Read
01

The African Development Bank has approved a $304 million loan to Botswana to support the southe...

African Development Bank Approves $304 Million Loan to Support Botswana's Fiscal Stability and Economic Reforms 
02

BRVM and Africa50 signed a deal to create new infrastructure financing tools The plan inclu...

BRVM and Africa50 Partner to Fund Infrastructure in WAEMU
03

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliamentarians met in Lomé from May 6 to 9,...

ECOWAS Parliament Calls for Airfare Tax Cuts to Make Flying Affordable
04

Nigeria’s audit industry grew 65% in 2024, reaching 28.2 billion naira ($14.4 million). KPMG, EY,...

Big Four Hold 99% Share of Nigeria’s Audit Market in 2024
05

Africa’s digital economy is growing rapidly, and the demand for data storage, processing power, and ...

Safaricom and iXAfrica Launch East Africa’s AI-Ready Data Centre Services
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.