Ouagadougou: General Aboubacar Sangoul© Lamizana, the second president of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), was acquitted by the People’s Revolutionary Tribunal on charges of embezzling 400 million CFA francs during his fifteen-year tenure as head of state. The trial, which took place on August 3, 1984, aimed to address allegations of economic crimes committed by former regimes.
According to Burkina Information Agency, General Lamizana was overthrown in a bloodless coup on November 25, 1980, led by the Military Committee for Recovery and National Progress, under the leadership of Colonel Saye Zerbo. Subsequently, in January 1984, Lamizana was brought before the first People’s Revolutionary Tribunal, which held its hearings at the People’s House in Ouagadougou.
The tribunal, a popular court involving the Burkinabe people, examined the management of political leaders and senior state officials. General Lamizana was accused of embezzling a significant sum from special funds during his presidency. However, he denied any knowledge of the embezzled funds, asserting that his personal assets were modest and unrelated to the accusations.
During the trial, General Lamizana stated that he had built two villas and purchased two cars with his own funds over his years in power. He emphasized his commitment to the well-being and development of the Burkinabe people, expressing a willingness to make his assets available to the court if it would benefit the public.
He clarified that he inherited little from his family and invested his savings for his children’s future. He argued that his lifestyle was known to the public, both before and during his presidency, as well as after his fall from power. General Lamizana assured the court of his transparency and accountability regarding his assets and actions.
The tribunal eventually acquitted General Lamizana of all embezzlement charges, acknowledging the trust placed in him by many Burkinabe who supported his exoneration. General Aboubacar Sangoul© Lamizana, who served as President of Upper Volta from 1966 to 1980, passed away on May 26, 2005, at the age of 89.