Former Burkinabe Judge Sentenced to Prison for Stellionism and Money Laundering

Former president of the Banfora High Court, Judge Sidaty Yoda, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined 291.6 million CFA francs for involvement in stellionism—fraudulently selling property he did not legally own—and money laundering.

The ruling was handed down by the Ouaga 1 High Court, where Yoda was found guilty alongside two co-defendants.

He had been in pre-trial detention since February 6, 2025, following complaints filed in July 2024 over the illegal sale of urban land.

Co-defendant Lamine Tera received a 24-month sentence, including six months of actual imprisonment, along with a 3 million CFA franc fine.

The third defendant, Adama Ganamé, was handed a 24-month suspended sentence and a suspended fine of 3 million CFA francs.

All three were also ordered to jointly pay 2.8 million CFA francs in costs not included in legal fees and over 175 million CFA francs in compensation to the victims.