In a recent hearing before Guinea's Cour de répression des infractions économiques et financières, Mandian Sidibé, the former director-general of the Office guinéen de publicité, faced questioning over alleged mismanagement of 78 billion francs guinéens. Sidibé's lawyers argued that their client had provided satisfactory responses to the accusations, while the prosecution maintained that several financial discrepancies during Sidibé's tenure remained unaddressed. The hearing was part of an ongoing investigation into Sidibé's management of the OGP.
The defense team, led by lawyer Seydou Traoré, expressed satisfaction with the hearing, stating that it provided an opportunity for Sidibé to present his side of the story. Traoré emphasized that the report by the Inspection générale d'État, which formed the basis of the accusations, was flawed due to Sidibé's non-involvement in the verification process. According to Traoré, the report lacked contradictory analysis, as Sidibé was not given a chance to provide his observations.
The defense also highlighted that the OGP, being a publicly traded company, was subject to specific regulations. Traoré mentioned that the company's accounts for the 2022-2023 financial year had been certified by a commissioner and transmitted to the Cour des comptes without any irregularities noted. This, the defense argued, contradicted the allegations of financial mismanagement.
Conversely, Christophe Labilé Kolié, representing the prosecution, stressed the need for clarity on financial transactions during Sidibé's tenure. Kolié pointed to discrepancies in payroll, public contracts, and expenditures within the OGP. He emphasized that those in management positions must be accountable and adhere to established procedures.
Kolié further questioned the utilization of company resources and potential payments made to the Guinean state, the OGP's sole shareholder. Citing figures from the case, he noted that out of 108 billion francs guinéens in question, 52 billion was allocated to payroll. The prosecution seeks additional details on revenues, expenditures, and payments made during the relevant period.
The hearing primarily revolved around the significance of the IGE report, the financial management of the OGP, and the required justifications for the transactions in question. The CRIEF Chamber has adjourned the case to December 2, 2026, for further deliberations.
As the case continues, Mandian Sidibé's management of the OGP and the validity of the IGE report will remain under scrutiny. The outcome will likely have implications for Sidibé and potentially other parties involved in the alleged financial mismanagement.
Key points
- Mandian Sidibé disputes the IGE report's findings on his management of the OGP.
- The defense argues that Sidibé was not involved in the verification process for the IGE report.
- The case has been adjourned to December 2, 2026, for further proceedings.
