The Beninese government has announced that judicial proceedings will be launched against two senior officials and their accomplices, following revelations of embezzlement of public funds.
At a Cabinet meeting, the Secretaries of the municipalities of Adjarra and Toucountouna were officially dismissed after financial misconduct was uncovered during inspection missions.
In Adjarra, a December 2024 audit by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) revealed a scheme of inflated billing involving the Secretary and the Director of Local Development and Planning.
The pair reportedly overcharged for two services by a total of 3 million CFA francs, pocketing an illegal commission of 1 million CFA, of which 800,000 CFA was actually paid by the contractor. A dispute over how to
Splitting the sum later exposed the fraud.
In Toucountouna, the secretary is accused of forging administrative documents and misappropriating municipal funds. The case involves an official trip to Belgium in July 2024, where she fraudulently altered a prefectural order to charge travel expenses to the municipal budget—despite the original resolution, approved by the prefect of
Atacora, explicitly excluding such funding.
This led to an initial disbursement of 602,000 CFA francs for ineligible expenses, including lodging and administrative fees in Cotonou. The fraud came to light during the processing of a second disbursement of 995,000 CFA francs for the delegation’s travel costs.
Despite being formally ordered by the prefect to reimburse the funds, the secretary failed to comply before a control mission by the municipal oversight unit from March 28 to 31, 2025.
In response to these “serious breaches of duty” that undermine the interests of the municipalities, the Cabinet not only dismissed the two officials but also instructed the relevant ministries to impose further disciplinary measures on all staff involved.
Additionally, criminal proceedings will be initiated against all implicated individuals, including the contractor involved in the overbilling in Adjarra.
This action aligns with the government’s broader anti-corruption and good governance policy for local governments.
