Faced with investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC), the former director of general administration and equipment (DAGE) of the Ministry of Culture, Léonce Nzally, tried to clear himself in the case relating to the absence of supporting documents for the use of a sum of 1.120 billion CFA francs, of which 530 million were intended for the “tenors” of Senegalese music.
According to information from LibérationLéonce Nzally said that the Court of Auditors would have been mistaken on certain supporting documents. He explained that the funds in question had been distributed as follows: a billion CFA francs to the collective management company of copyright and neighboring rights (SODAV), 50 million to the national network of traditional communicators, 50 million in the fashion and styling sub-sector, and 20 million in historical heritage.
Nzally specifies that the Sodav would have redistributed only 470 million to the beneficiaries, before returning the remainder – or 530 million – in the form of a check, accompanied by supporting documents.
In his explanations, the former dage indicates that a correspondence had been sent by the Minister of Culture at the time, Abdoulaye Diop, to President Macky Sall to inform him of the remaining balance on the allocated funds. In return, says Nzally, the head of state would have transmitted a list of personalities from the Senegalese musical sector to support, asking that the 530 million be redistributed to the latter, rather than returned to the public treasury. Each name on this list would have been associated with a specific amount.
-However, Léonce Nzally maintains that he was kept away from the processing of this operation. He says he did not have access to the full list of beneficiaries, nor to the supporting documents in the delivery of the funds. However, he said he was able to retrace some checks given to 18 artists as well as the artists’ health mutual insurance company, for a total amount of 308 million CFA francs.
Asked about the remaining gap, either 222 million CFA francs Nzally estimated that the list in his possession was probably incomplete, inviting investigators to get closer to the Arts Directorate to obtain details.
