DAKAR (TrustLaw) – Members of Niger’s parliament started looking into demands by the government to lift immunity from prosecution for nine of their colleagues accused of corruption, L’Actualite newspaper reported.
The first five MPs under scrutiny include former interior minister Albade Abouba, who is accused of embezzling FCFA 600 million ($1.1 million), and the former director of national energy company Nigelec Ibrahim Foukory, who allegedly embezzled about FCFA 20 billion ($39.9 million) aimed at improving the company.
“I never embezzled a dime during my time as head of Nigelec,” l’Actualite quoted Foukory as saying.
The review panel will also look into allegations against former trade minister Halidou Bagué for misappropriating FCFA 250 million ($498,215), and MPs Bassirou Ibo and Max Djibo for embezzling FCFA 600 million ($1.1 million) and FCFA 750,000 ($1,494) respectively, the paper said.
Under Nigerien law, parliamentarians are granted complete immunity from prosecution that can only be lifted by the national assembly in case evidence is found of criminal offence committed by MPs.
Other members of parliament whose immunity is under threat include former education minister Harouna Hamani and former minister of infrastructure Lamido Moumouni Harouna.
Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou has vowed to fight rampant corruption in the country.
However, some of those under scrutiny have said the investigation is a political witch-hunt targeting mostly people who were closely linked to former president Mamadou Tandja, who was overthrown by a 2010 military coup as he tried to run for an unpopular third term in office.
(Editing by Maria Caspani)
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