Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin's court for financial crimes and terrorism, stated that the coup was intended to occur on September 27, 2024, AFP reports.
Former sports minister Oswald Homeky and Commander of the Republican Guard in Benin Republic, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, have been arrested along with a businessman for allegedly plotting a coup against President Patrice Talon.
Benin prosecutors announced the arrests on Wednesday, revealing suspicions of a "coup d'etat" in the West African nation.
Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin's court for financial crimes and terrorism, stated that the coup was intended to occur on September 27, 2024, AFP reports.
"It appears the Republican Guard commander in charge of the president's security was engaged by the minister Oswald Homeky and Olivier Boko in order to carry out a coup by force," the prosecutor said.
Homeky was detained at around 1 am on Tuesday while transferring six bags of cash totalling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs ($2.5 million) to Commander Tevoedjre. Boko, known as a longtime friend of President Talon, was arrested separately overnight in Cotonou.
Boko had recently indicated his intention to run for the presidency in 2026, when Talon's second term ends.
Benin’s security forces remain on high alert amid a series of violent incidents linked to insurgency in the Sahel region that has affected the country.