Samuel Okocha, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria
The auditor's office in Niger said at least 64 billion CFA francs [$128 million] were stolen from the state's treasury under the government of former President Mamadou Tandja. Niger's military junta had launched an investigation into possible corruption during Tandja's ten-year rule after he was overthrown and detained in a coup in February.
Spokesman of the auditor's office, Gabriel Martin said the corruption probe revealed hundreds of cases of fraud through inflated government contracts and fake orders with Tandja and over two thousand people implicated.
"Some of these people have come forward to admit their responsibility, and others have not. The cases have been forwarded to the appropriate authorities," Reuters quoted Martin as saying.
Martin added that Tandja was involved in many of the corruption cases and the military junta has said the former President would likely be prosecuted.
Tandja is said to have been under house arrest in the capital Niamey since the February coup.