Benin magistrates furious with Justice minister

A 72-hour strike called this week by Benin’s National Union of Magistrates (UNAMAB) confirmed hostilities with the country’s minister for Justice Marie-Elise Bgedo remained unabated.

The dispute goes back to December 8 last year when the minister accused magistrates of being corrupt.

The statement outraged the magistrates’ union which has been demanding her resignation.

Undeterred, Ms Gbedo pointed out that a 2007 survey on corruption and governance in Benin which was demanded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank found that 66 per cent of Beninois had no trust in the country’s legal system.

According to the survey, 85 per cent of the people thought the legal system is discriminatory towards poor people while 82 per cent found it inherently unfair and 82 per cent believed it was driven by financial interests.

UNAMAB rejected the survey as “inaccurate” and “inadmissible.” It argued: “Which opinion could we expect from a litigant who after being involved in a trial for years ends up losing?”

When this week’s strike was announced, the minister called for dialogue pleading that her words were never directed at magistrates of integrity.

With teachers already on strike demanding a salary raise, Benin has its hands full with public sector woes.