Niger: Former PM, senior officials arrested

  1. Posted on Wednesday 4 August 2010 - 12:10
    Mforgham
    Image of Mforgham
    Solomon Tembang Mforgham
    Police in Niger arrested former Prime Minister, Seini Oumarou, and three other former senior officials accused of embezzling public funds.
    Tandja
    They are said to have been charged a released on bail.

    The military government vowed to investigate corruption during Mr. Tandja's more than 10 years in power and promised elections within the year.

    The Voice of America reports that Mr. Tandja's political party has denounced the arrests of former officials as arbitrary and illegal, but military government leader General Salou Djibo also reportedly said he will not back down.

    General Djibo says the anti-graft commission will finish what it started. He said this clean-up began two months ago and the government has already recovered more than $4-million. He said people who owe money should start selling things to raise money because if they do not pay it back, they will go to prison.

    It would be recalled that in July, the anti-corruption commission in Niger published the names of 200 people accused of embezzlement as well as the amounts of money they need to pay back. Ex-prime minister Oumarou has been called to return $500,000.

    This month, the military government authorised the commission to seize the money and property of suspects before trial.

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