The legal battle promises to be fierce. While an investigation is underway at the Urban Security Department of the Dakar central police station, following a complaint by Baïdy Kane accusing Thierno Ndome Ba of fraud in connection with a debt of 1.6 billion CFA francs, the latter is countersuing.

Through his lawyers Demba Ciré Bathily and Seydou Diagne, he announced his intention to file a complaint against his accuser for fraud, extortion and dissemination of false news.

The defense formally denies any fraudulent involvement on the part of its client. The lawyers maintain that Thierno Ba is, in fact, the primary victim in this case: "The debt in question was never settled by the Senegalese government. My client was cheated after paying out 50 million CFA francs to Baïdy Kane."

According to their explanations, their client acquired the 1.6 billion CFA francs debt for 600 million CFA francs. A transaction that, today, looks more like a fool's bargain than a genuine business opportunity.

In the process, Thierno Ba presented the supporting documents for the said debt to Amadou Ba, then Minister of Economy and Finance.

Having been asked for an opinion, the State Judicial Agent (AJE) conducted his investigations, which revealed that the State of Senegal is not liable for this debt. In a letter addressed to the minister, the AJE clarified that any payment would be the responsibility of the liquidator of the Senegal Railways and not the Public Treasury, according to the defense.

Armed with these elements, the defense challenges Baïdy Kane: "Let him produce a single document proving that Thierno Ndome Ba received a single franc in this affair."

The case is now in the hands of the Urban Security Service. A legal confrontation is looming between the two protagonists.