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Lawyer: Niger Court Orders Tandja Released

   VOA News  May 10, 2011
   Niger's Former President Mamadou Tandja (C), surrounded by bodyguards
   in Niamey, (File)

Photo: AP

   Niger's Former President Mamadou Tandja (C), surrounded by bodyguards
   in Niamey, (File)

   A lawyer for Niger's former president Mamadou Tandja says an appeals
   court has dropped corruption charges against his client and ordered his
   release from prison.
   Attorney Souley Oumarou told reporters in the capital Niamey Tuesday
   that his client would be freed soon.
   Tandja was ousted in a military coup last year after amending the
   constitution to extend his rule and expand his powers.
   After his ouster, the ruling junta accused the former president of
   looting the country's coffers of about $125 million since taking office
   in 1999.
   Tandja was charged with misusing public funds and moved to a prison
   facility in Niamey in January.
   During his rule, Niger's uranium sector attracted billions of dollars
   of investments, but the country remained one of the poorest in the
   world.
   Military rule in Niger came to an end in March, when Mahamadou Issoufou
   was elected president. He took office last month.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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