With our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan

Several lawyers from the Benin bar and from abroad are mobilized to defend the academic, regarded in Africa as a constitutional law expert of great renown. This major figure of the young generation of Benin political actors completely denies what he is accused of. Exactly three months after his dramatic arrest on April 15, four days after the presidential election, Professor Joël Aïvo is being tried for "endangering state security and money laundering".

With him, a retired soldier, a non-commissioned officer still in service, and the man who manages the finances of his political movement, Dynamique Aïvo. According to our information, the lawyers have not obtained a copy of the case file but have been authorized to consult it.

Candidate's security deposit

Regarding the qualification of "endangering state security," leaks do not allow much to be known before the hearing. On the other hand, the "money laundering" of which he is accused would be related to his candidate's security deposit for the presidential election for which he was disqualified.

The academic, who before and during the election severely criticized Talon's governance and his political reforms, is being defended by a panel of lawyers from the Benin bar and elsewhere. Among them the veteran Robert Dossou and the feisty Elvis Dide.

In mid-June, Joël Aïvo tested positive for Covid-19. As recently as now, he has repeated to his counsel that he had nothing to do with these facts and hopes to be released from detention.

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