Elimane Pouye has let the cat out of the bag. Following investigations, the director general of the State Built Heritage Management and Operation Company (SOGEPA) discovered that the building that housed the now-defunct High Council of Territorial Communities (HCCT), in Point E, was owned by the state, which, although it had been purchased for 20 billion CFA francs, subsequently paid rent totaling 3 billion CFA francs.

Last February, Pouye revealed the matter to President Diomaye Faye, who called upon the State Inspectorate General (IGE) to shed light on the matter. The head of state revealed the matter during the presentation of the economic recovery plan last Friday.

In its Monday edition, Libération revealed the details of the transaction relating to this R+8 building, built on 1037, now assigned to the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs to house its services. The newspaper reveals that SOGEPA, which has finished registering the building in the name of the State, has simultaneously initiated proceedings to recover the 3 billion CFA francs in rent collected by the businessman, president of Jaraaf and vice-president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Cheikh Seck.

The latter would be willing to repay the sums already collected, according to the daily newspaper. The newspaper reports that the former Lions goalkeeper, through SCI Fara, was officially linked to AGPBE (now SOGEPA) by an agreement to make the building available for a monthly rent of 50 million CFA francs, for an indefinite period. However, the property was purchased by the State thanks to a loan of 20 billion CFA francs (14 billion + interest), granted by Diamond Bank.

The banking transaction, concluded on March 7, 2018, was led by the Minister Delegate for the Budget, Birima Mangara, reports Libération. It was "totally illegal," according to the daily. "Indeed," continues the same source, "such a procedure should have been carried out by the Directorate of State Property after approval from the State Property Operations Control Commission. Neither State Property, nor the then AGPBE, responsible for paying rents, were aware of the transaction."

Appointed Director General of the AGPBE, Dr. Abdoul Yaya Kane had at the time contacted the Ministry of Finance. His letter and reminders were not followed up, Libération reports. It was ultimately the calm before the storm.