Two men close to Benin’s president jailed after alleged coup plot

By Associated Press

Two men close to Benin’s president who were arrested last week on suspicions of plotting a coup in the small West African country were remanded in custody ahead of their trial, one of their lawyers said Tuesday.

Olivier Boko — a businessman and longtime friend of President Patrice Talon — and Oswald Homeky — a former sports minister — were charged with “conspiracy against state security, corruption of public funds and money laundering,” according to the lawyer, Ayodele Ahounou.

Both men were arrested after being accused of bribing the commander in charge of the president’s security to carry out a coup.

Homeky was caught on Tuesday while allegedly handing over six bags of money to the head of the Republican Guard, according to Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism.

Boko, often seen as Talon’s “right-hand man,” is accused of