By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Gabonese state prosecutor has announced that the eldest son of ousted President, Ali Bongo, and several of his loyalists have been charged with high treason and corruption.
The 31-year-old Noureddin Bongo Valentin was arrested shortly after last month’s coup.
Images of him went viral along with some of his father’s close allies in front of suitcases of cash which national TV said had been seized from their homes.
The accused persons currently in detention have not spoken on the allegations.
The military had forcefully seized power in the West African country soon after Ali Bongo was declared the winner of Gabon’s presidential election.
On the same day as the coup, soldiers arrested one of Bongo’s sons, five senior cabinet officials and his wife Sylvia Bongo Valentin.
Bongo’s wife is under house arrest in the capital Libreville “for her protection”, according to authorities. Her lawyers say she is being held “arbitrarily”.
The ousted husband has been in office since 2009 when he succeeded his father who had ruled the country for 41 years.
