Head of Niger’s parliament flees to France
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — The head of Niger’s National
Assembly, who faces questioning in connection with a baby-trafficking
scandal, is in France, a source close to the office of Burkina Faso’s
president said yesterday.
Hama Amadou fled to Burkina Faso last week
as officials in his home country ruled his parliamentary immunity would
not save him from being questioned over the scandal, which has rattled
Niger’s political class.
The source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose Amadou’s itinerary,
said Amadou was staying in Paris.
Amadou’s wife and 17 other people,
including the country’s agriculture minister, have already been arrested
over their suspected links to trafficking babies from neighbouring
Nigeria.
Amadou and his supporters say he is being targeted because he is a rival to Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou.
