Codjo Alofa died on Monday, 26 October 2026, following an accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC). Alofa was a detainee held at the Cotonou civil prison. Authorities transferred him to the Centre national hospitalier universitaire (CNHU) in Cotonou shortly before he died. The medical emergency occurred while he was under the supervision of the prison administration, necessitating his urgent transport to the medical facility for treatment. Despite the efforts of the medical staff at the Centre national hospitalier universitaire (CNHU), he succumbed to the condition on the same day.
Long Detention and Prosecution
Codjo Alofa had remained in custody since his initial arrest in 2010. His prolonged detention occurred in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Pierre Urbain Dangnivo, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Finance in Bénin. Donatien Amoussou, a lawyer who represented Codjo Alofa, stated to Bip Radio that his client’s legal situation involved repeated delays throughout the judicial process. These years spent in the Cotonou civil prison preceded his recent medical emergency and death. Judicial authorities had yet to conclude the proceedings against him at the time of his passing. The duration of his incarceration spanned more than a decade, during which he remained confined within the Cotonou civil prison while the investigation into the disappearance of Pierre Urbain Dangnivo moved through various stages of the Beninese judicial system.
Legal Demands and Sentencing
Public prosecutors formally requested a sentence of 30 years of criminal imprisonment for Codjo Alofa in July 2026. This sentencing recommendation emerged during the ongoing legal proceedings associated with the case of Pierre Urbain Dangnivo. Prosecutors further sought 150 million FCFA in damages and interest from Codjo Alofa as part of the legal filing.
Pierre Urbain Dangnivo served as an official within the Ministry of Finance in Bénin before his disappearance in August 2010. His absence initiated a multi-year investigation that linked Codjo Alofa to the case. Judicial records indicate that the request for a 30-year prison term and the associated financial penalties remained active until the death of Codjo Alofa in custody on 26 October 2026. The 150 million FCFA sum represented the total compensation sought by the prosecution for the alleged involvement of the defendant in the matter. These legal developments occurred approximately 16 years after the initial disappearance of Pierre Urbain Dangnivo. Throughout this period, the legal status of Codjo Alofa was defined by his continuous detention since 2010. The request for 30 years of criminal imprisonment and the 150 million FCFA in damages and interest were the final formal positions taken by the prosecution before the death of the defendant brought the proceedings against him to an abrupt end. The case has remained a significant matter for the judicial authorities in Bénin since the August 2010 disappearance.
