Trial in Togo: General Abalo Kadangha denies any involvement in the death of Colonel Bitala Madjoulba
In Togo, the trial linked to the death of Colonel Bitala Madjoulba continues, this time with General Abalo Kadangha at the bar. Accused of obstructing the proper functioning of justice, complicity in assassination and complicity against the internal security of the State, the general firmly denied all the accusations against him.
The hearing on October 26, 2023 was marked by the statements of General Abalo Kadangha, who affirmed that Colonel Madjoulba was like his son and that he was in no way involved in his assassination. Asked about sending the army service unit to the field, despite the already presence of the gendarmerie, the general explains having given his approval to the USM, a military service in charge of internal investigations. These investigators would also have discovered the murder weapon, which would be that of Colonel Bitala Madjoulba.
But the prosecutor does not see it that way and accuses the general of having organized a parallel investigation with the aim of creating a diversion and hindering the work of the judicial police. The defense lawyers, for their part, highlight the gaps in the case, in particular the lack of expertise of the victim’s phones and the absence of prints on the weapon. They therefore request a second opinion in order to clarify these elements.
The trial continues this Friday, October 27 and new hearings will take place. Recall that Colonel Bitala Madjoulba was found dead in his office on May 4, 2020, just after attending the swearing-in of President Faure Gnassingbé, re-elected for a fourth five-year term.
This affair caused a lot of noise in Togo and raised many questions about the possible involvement of the highest levels of power in the colonel’s death. The current trial is therefore of capital importance to shed light on this matter and bring justice to the victim.