By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A former President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is currently facing a 20-year jail term over allegation of “power abuse” and “unlawful enrichment” during his tenure as the country’s leader for 20 years.
Aziz held swear from 2008-2019, a period prosecutors witnessed large scale corruption among officials of government.
The prosecutors on Tuesday requested a 20 year-prison sentence against the 66-year-old former leader.
Aziz has been on trial since January 2023, with his supporters branding his prosecution politically motivated.
They have accused the incumbent President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, a General turned politician, of orchestrating the arrest of his former boss.
“All the elements in the hands of justice prove the constitution of a crime,” prosecutor, Ahmed Ould Moustapha said.
The prosecutor also asked the court to order the seizure of the former President’s assets.
The prosecutor also requested a ten-year jail sentence against Yahya Ould Hademine and Mohamed Salem Ould El Bechir who separately served as Prime Ministers under Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, in addition to payment of $258,000 each in fine.
Several other former officials close to the former leader are also standing on the trial.
