Benin – Mario Métonou: “Justice should not be the weapon of any side”
The Special Prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET), Mario Métonou, has taken a stand to reaffirm the commitment of the institution he leads to guarantee impartial and fair justice.
CRIET
In a statement given to Peace FM radio and relayed on social media, he made it a point to recall the conduct of the public ministry.
“We are not here to wage war against one category of actors or to protect another. It is not about pleasing one section of public opinion or making another the scapegoat,” he stressed.
This speech comes in a context where CRIET continues to stir controversy, particularly over the fairness of its procedures and the perceived selective use of justice in politico-judicial affairs.
Mario Métonou insisted that the mission of the CRIET remains unchanged: to prosecute all offenses, without distinction of person or status.
“Justice should not serve any particular interest,” he hammered home, reaffirming the republican vocation of his action.
With this move, the special prosecutor is trying to reassure public opinion often divided over the actual independence of justice in Benin, and to restore confidence in a judicial institution sometimes perceived as being instrumentalised.