The trial of former Burkinabé Education Minister Lionel Bilgo and his co-defendant Vincent de Paul Kaboré took a new turn on September 21, 2026, at the Economic and Financial Pole (ECOFI) of the Bobo-Dioulasso High Court. The court rejected the defense's request for provisional release and adjourned the case to October 5, 2026. This development comes after the case was reassigned to ECOFI on September 18, 2026, following the addition of a money laundering charge.
The defendants are accused of alleged illegal exercise of land activities and unauthorized real estate promotion. Their lawyers had contested the decision of the Bobo-Dioulasso High Court's correctional chamber to transfer the case to ECOFI, arguing that it was not competent to handle the case. At the September 21 hearing, the defense raised concerns about the coexistence of two separate cases: one related to land infractions and the other concerning money laundering.
The defense argued that these two cases constituted "two different files" and invoked the notions of litispendance and connexité. They claimed that the procedure should take into account the appeal pending before the superior jurisdiction. The prosecution acknowledged the existence of two separate cases but argued that ECOFI could examine the money laundering aspect while awaiting the Court of Appeal's decision.
In a decision rendered before making a ruling, ECOFI decided to stay proceedings on the first case, related to illegal land activities and unauthorized real estate promotion, pending the outcome of the appeal. The defense also contested the second arrest warrant issued against their clients and requested their provisional release. They argued that the defendants did not pose a flight risk and that investigations were complete.
The defense proposed an alternative measure of placing the defendants under judicial supervision, with a requirement to report regularly. Lionel Bilgo and Vincent de Paul Kaboré both stated before the judge that they were willing to face justice and respond to judicial summons. However, the prosecution opposed the request for provisional release, citing the risk of witness subornation.
The prosecutor defended the maintenance of the second arrest warrant, arguing that the defendants' release could compromise the trial. After hearing arguments from the defense and prosecution, the judge rejected the exception of nullity raised against the second arrest warrant and the request for provisional release. The case was subsequently adjourned to October 5, 2026.
The court's decision was made in accordance with the law, taking into account the complexity of the case and the arguments presented by both sides. The case has garnered significant attention in Burkina Faso, with many stakeholders following its developments. The next hearing is expected to shed more light on the allegations against Lionel Bilgo and Vincent de Paul Kaboré.
Key points
- The court rejected the defense's request for provisional release for Lionel Bilgo and Vincent de Paul Kaboré.
- The case was adjourned to October 5, 2026, to allow for further consideration of the arguments presented.
- The defendants are accused of alleged illegal exercise of land activities and unauthorized real estate promotion, with an additional charge of money laundering.
