The Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Séverin Adjovi, former mayor of Ouidah by the Economic Offences and Terrorism Suppression Court (CRIET) & agrave; 7 years in prison through Order No. 98/CJ-P of 23/12/2022.

Séverin Adjovi was prosecuted in a case that had pitted him against the Beninese State and the companies Etisalat Benin and Telecel. He would have sold a building with land title to the company Telecel. However, the company would have already paid the purchase costs and taken possession of its land title. Thus, the estate ceded ended up on the site intended to house the construction site, during the construction of the Godomey interchange.

Like all the people affected by the project, according to the information, Etisalat was compensated, but the former mayor subtly collected the money instead of Etisalat receiving the compensation amount. He was thus found guilty of the acts of tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison at CRIET with a fine of 500 million FCFA and 200 million in damages to Etisalat and Telecel Benin and then a sum of more than 6 million FCFA to the Beninese State.

According to the information, the Judicial Chamber of the Supreme Court was referred to the Judicial Chamber of the Supreme Court by the lawyer of the former Mayor of Ouidah, Elvis Didè, who rejected the Beninese State's plea represented by the Judicial Officer of the Treasury (AJT). Thus, by the order issued on Friday, December 23, 2022, the Supreme Court repeals and annuls, according to the information, all the provisions of Order No. 002/CRIET/CA/2S issued on January 25, 2021 by the CRIET Appeals Chamber.