2023-11-01 01:01:08
Mohamed Bazoum, in Sara-Koira (Niger), September 11, 2021. BOUREIMA HAMA / AFP
The attorney general at the Niamey Court of Appeal, Salissou Chaïbou, affirmed, Tuesday, October 31, that there had been an attempt to escape by President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup d’état in Niger and sequestered, after that the lawyers of the former head of state denied it.
“These are real facts and not a staging”, said Salissou Chaïbou about Mohamed Bazoum’s escape attempt, in a statement broadcast on national television, Télé Sahel. Mr. Chaïbou also affirmed that there was indeed a “exfiltration plan” that the military regime detailed in mid-October – “fabricated accusations”Mr. Bazoum’s lawyers then declared.
“On the night of October 18 to 19”former president Bazoum, “his family, his security and his cooks, transporting various packages, were arrested” by “agents of the presidential guard, as they headed towards the exit of the palace”, indicated Mr. Chaïbou. He added that a vehicle was waiting for them “with a view to transporting them to a house” from a district of Niamey, “identified as belonging to Mohamed Ben Hamaye, a former member of Mr. Bazoum’s close guard” et “alleged mastermind of the operation”specifying the destination of the rest of their planned helicopter journey: Birnin Kebbi, in the northwest of Nigeria.
Read also: In Niger, Mohamed Bazoum’s lawyers reject the junta’s accusations of an alleged escape attempt by the deposed president
An ongoing “espionage” investigation
Mr. Chaïbou indicated that“a careful search of the packages and a search carried out in the residence of the former president had led to the discovery of large sums of money in [francs] CFA and foreign currencies, as well as various precious goods ». “In particular, a sum of 86,250,000 CFA francs [131 300 euros]17,017 US dollars [16 090 euros]3 835 euros, 5 livres sterling [5,75 euros]16 cedis [1,25 euro]2,800 grams of gold, 333 grams of silver »electronic equipment and “many phone chips”, Who “indicate unique uses for calls to cover their tracks”, he detailed. He also mentioned the discovery of“around ten cell phones destroyed”.
In addition, Mr. Chaïbou reported” spying “in addition to the “information on the presidential guard system”before sending images “to the French by the former president of the republic”Mohamed Bazoum.
“Twenty-three civilian and military people were arrested in connection with this affair”he affirmed, recalling that a “investigation is ongoing”. He also recalled that Mohamed Bazoum was in his presidential residence, where he has been held with his wife and son since the coup that overthrew him on July 26.
Read also: In Niger, ousted president Mohamed Bazoum is with his family and “doing well”
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