2024-09-06 11:02:40
In its verdict delivered on August 26, 2024, the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal sentenced Mr. Vincent Dabilgou, former Minister of Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety, to 11 years’ imprisonment, including 6 years in prison, and a fine of 3,375,858,462 CFA francs. The latter and several other individuals and legal entities, including his Director of Financial Affairs (DAF), Jean Gabriel Séré, were prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds, complicity in embezzlement of public funds, secret financing of a political party, complicity in secret financing of a political party, forgery and use of forged private commercial documents, complicity in use of forgery, abuse of office, illicit enrichment and money laundering.
The case dates back to the combined elections (presidential and legislative) of November 2020, when the New Time for Democracy (NTD) party and several of its activists found themselves in the sights of the Ziniaré High Court (TGI) for electoral fraud and corruption. At the time, the prosecution initiated by the Prosecutor’s Office of this jurisdiction resulted in the indictment, for witness tampering, of Mr. Jean Gabriel Séré, a member of the NTD and Director of Financial Affairs (DAF) at the Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety (MTMUSR).
This trial will result in a denunciation to the public prosecutor of the TGI Ouaga I, for embezzlement of public funds at the MTMUSR for electoral campaign purposes. The investigation of this new case is entrusted to the Higher Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC). Initially considered a witness, Mr. Dabilgou, President of the NTD, becomes, following the investigations, a defendant.
Dabilgou denies the facts, witnesses take the opposite view
After the case was registered by the Ouaga I TGI prosecutor’s office for judgment, REN-LAC marked its entry into the proceedings by constituting itself as a civil party. The trial began on February 16, 2023. At the bar of the judges of the correctional chamber of the TGI are Vincent Dabilgou and 7 others including three public officials, a legal entity and three people from the private sector. They are Jean Gabriel Séré (DAF at MTMUSR), Ousmane Sigué (material accountant at MTMUSR), Malick Koanda (director of SOPAFER-B and campaign manager of Vincent Dabilgou), the NTD (party of Mr. Vincent Dabilgou), Yassya Sawadogo (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Green Energy), Minata Coulibaly (sales manager of Green Energy) and Alhousseni Waneltigré Ouédraogo (former DAF of Ildo Oil).
The eight defendants are being prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds, complicity in embezzlement of public funds, covert financing of a political party, complicity in covert financing of a political party, forgery and use of forged private commercial documents, complicity in use of forgery, abuse of office, illicit enrichment and money laundering.
While, during the trial, Mr. Dabilgou denied the facts, the various witnesses who took the stand, including those of the defense, cited by him, took the opposite view. It emerges from the debates that the MTMUSR and some of its structures such as SOPAFER-B entered into contracts aimed at disbursing money for fictitious purchases, particularly of fuel.
Seven out of eight defendants were ultimately convicted at first instance for abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, illicit enrichment, complicity in misappropriation of public funds and illicit enrichment, secret financing of a political party, receiving stolen goods and money laundering.
The main person concerned, Vincent Dabilgou, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, 7 of which were firm, and a firm fine of 3,375,858,462 CFA francs. His CFO, Jean Gabriel Séré, was sentenced to 6 years in prison, 3 of which were firm, and a firm fine of 3,375,858,462 CFA francs. Ousmane Sigué, Malick Koanda and Alhousseni Waneltigré Ouédraogo were sentenced to 11 years in prison, 4 of which were firm, 5 of which were firm and 2 of which were firm, respectively. The first received a firm fine of 395,106,384 CFA francs, the second a firm fine of 2,460,868,092 CFA francs and the third a firm fine of 269,746,092 CFA francs. Minata Coulibaly was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of 4 years. However, she was fined 10,000,000 CFA francs. Only Yassya Sawadogo, prosecuted for forgery and complicity in embezzlement of public funds, was acquitted on the benefit of the doubt.
The NTD, Mr. Dabilgou’s party, has its political activities suspended, in addition to being fined 10,000,000 CFA francs. In addition, a ban on exercising eligibility rights for a period of 5 years has been pronounced against Vincent Dabilgou, Jean Gabriel Séré, Ousmane Sigué and Malick Koanda. The court orders the confiscation of their movable and immovable property up to the amount embezzled, i.e. 1,125,286,154 CFA francs for the benefit of the Public Treasury. All of the defendants are ordered to pay REN-LAC the sum of 3,000,000 CFA francs in damages and 3,000,000 CFA francs in costs incurred and not included in the costs. In addition, they must pay the Burkinabe State the sum of 1,125,286,154 CFA francs in damages, 5,000,000 CFA francs in compensation for moral prejudice and 5,000,000 CFA francs in costs incurred and not included in the costs. The criminal court orders the provisional execution of the civil judgments and sets the maximum judicial constraint.
Slight reduction in sentences
The defendants appealed and the case was tried again during the special session of the correctional chamber of the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal on July 22, 23 and 24, 2024. On August 26, the Court of Appeal confirmed the guilt of Vincent Dabilgou, Jean Gabriel Séré, Ousmane Sigué, Malick Koanda and the NTD, but slightly reduced their sentences. Thus, Vincent Dabilgou was sentenced this time to 11 years of imprisonment, of which 6 years were firm instead of 7 years, and was given the same fine. Ousmane Sigué and Malick Koanda got off with prison sentences of 9 years, of which 4 years were firm each. The former received a firm fine of 395,106,384 CFA francs and the latter a firm fine of 308,700,000 CFA francs. For his part, Jean Gabriel Séré had considered that his collaboration with the prosecution gave the right to an absolute excuse. An absolute excuse is a measure that allows a repentant offender to benefit from impunity if, before the opening of proceedings, the latter reveals the facts to an administrative or judicial authority or to the relevant authorities, allowing them to identify the persons involved. But the appeal judge considers the opposite and rejects the exception. Consequently, his sentence remains as such. As for the NTD, its activities are again suspended for a period of 5 years. The judge finally orders the confiscation of the defendants’ assets up to the amount of the embezzled sums. As for Alhousseni Waneltigré Ouédraogo and Minata Coulibaly, whose guilt had been upheld at first instance, they are purely and simply dismissed from the purposes of the proceedings for unconstituted offences. The Court also rejects the constitution of the Burkinabe State as a civil party. On the other hand, it accepts that of REN-LAC, declares it well-founded and orders the defendants to pay the Network the sum of 3,000,000 in costs incurred and not included in the costs. All other provisions of the judgment appealed on appeal are confirmed.
Rulers must be examples of virtue
This case confirms the results of the REN-LAC report on the observation of electoral fraud and corruption during the coupled elections of November 22, 2020, which concluded that money played a determining role in the outcome of the vote. For example, the NTD, which had obtained three deputies in the November 2015 elections, had become the third political force in the National Assembly after the coupled elections of 2020 with 13 deputies. This party was among the parties and political formations singled out by observers for practicing electoral corruption. The distribution of money (50%) and donations in kind (28.6%) were the most incriminated acts. This trial was therefore a golden opportunity to expose the way in which taxpayers’ money is used by politicians or governments to illicitly enrich themselves and get elected during elections. This is why the fight against corruption remains an essential element for the political stability and economic and social development of our country. We must ensure that all those who are in charge of the destiny of the nation or who aspire to it are examples of virtue, so that the management of state power becomes respectful of the rules of good governance. Failing this, those who engage in corruption and bad governance must be punished according to their crime. Moreover, the very holding of this trial shows that the tracking of white-collar criminals can make serious progress if we are more committed to fighting together to guarantee good morality and the good management of public affairs. This is how we can establish healthy governance, bringing qualitative changes to the lives of the population.
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vincent dabilgou, burkina faso’s former minister of transport
The Fall of Vincent Dabilgou: A Call for African Youth to Stand Against Corruption
In a landmark verdict delivered on August 26, 2024, the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal sentenced former Minister of Transport, Urban Mobility, and Road Safety, Vincent Dabilgou, to 11 years in prison, including 6 years in prison, and a fine of 3,375,858,462 CFA francs [[1]]. This ruling comes after a lengthy trial that exposed the deep-seated corruption and embezzlement of public funds that characterized Dabilgou’s tenure.
The case dates back to the 2020 presidential and legislative elections, where the New Time for Democracy (NTD) party, led by Dabilgou, was accused of electoral fraud and corruption [[1]]. The investigation, led by the Higher Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC), revealed a web of deceit and corruption that involved the embezzlement of public funds for electoral campaign purposes.
Dabilgou, along with seven others, including his Director of Financial Affairs, Jean Gabriel Séré, were prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds, complicity in embezzlement, secret financing of a political party, forgery, abuse of office, and money laundering [[1]]. During the trial, Dabilgou denied any wrongdoing, but the witnesses, including those called by the defense, painted a different picture. It emerged that the Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility, and Road Safety, as well as its structures, such as SOPAFER-B, had entered into contracts that disbursed money for fictitious purchases, including fuel [[1]].
The brave youth of Burkina Faso took a stand against Dabilgou’s corruption, confronting him in public for embezzlement of public funds [[2]]. This bold move sent a strong message that corruption would no longer be tolerated in the country.
The court’s verdict is a significant milestone in the fight against corruption in Burkina Faso. It sends a strong message to public officials that they will be held accountable for their actions, and that corruption will not be tolerated. The sentence is also a testament to the country’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that those who abuse their positions of power are brought to justice.
Dabilgou’s downfall serves as a warning to other corrupt officials in Africa and beyond. It is a reminder that corruption has severe consequences and that those who engage in it will eventually face the full force of the law. It is also a call to action for African youth to stand up against corruption and demand accountability from their leaders.
the fall of Vincent Dabilgou is a victory for justice and a testament to the power of the brave youth of Burkina Faso. It is a reminder that corruption has severe consequences and that those who engage in it will eventually face the full force of the law. It is a call to action for African youth to stand up against corruption and demand accountability from their leaders.
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vincent dabilgou, burkina faso’s former minister of transport
Vincent Dabilgou, Former Minister of Transport, Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Embezzlement of Public Funds
In a landmark verdict, the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal has sentenced Vincent Dabilgou, former Minister of Transport, Urban Mobility, and Road Safety, to 11 years’ imprisonment, including 6 years in prison, and a fine of 3,375,858,462 CFA francs. This verdict is the culmination of a long-drawn-out trial that began in February 2023, following a denunciation by the public prosecutor of the Ouaga I TGI for embezzlement of public funds at the Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility, and Road Safety (MTMUSR) for electoral campaign purposes.
The Case Against Vincent Dabilgou
The trial, which was prosecuted by the Higher Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC), alleged that Vincent Dabilgou, along with seven other individuals and legal entities, including his Director of Financial Affairs (DAF), Jean Gabriel Séré, had embezzled public funds, misused public office, and engaged in illicit enrichment and money laundering. The accused were also charged with secret financing of a political party, forgery, and use of forged private commercial documents.
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