Wetin dey happen for Paris court today na serious gist wey don shake business world. Ex-big boss of Lafarge cement company, Bruno Lafont, don collect six years prison with immediate lock-up. The man wey be former CEO of French cement giant Lafarge, Bruno Lafont, 69 years old, go sleep behind bars tonight after Paris court hammer fall on am for terrorism financing matter.
The court say the man dey involved in payments wey dem give jihadist groups for Syria between 2013 and 2014. The whole thing na about money wey Lafarge pay to terrorist groups so dem fit continue to run their factory for Syria during war time. The court talk say these payments help the jihadist groups to prepare terrorist attacks, including the January 2015 attacks for France.
As the judge read the judgment, police just arrest Bruno Lafont inside the courtroom and carry am go prison straight. The man wey be product of top French schools like HEC and ENA don enter Lafarge since 1983 through financial department before e climb ladder reach top. E become CEO for 2007 and stay till 2015.
But the man dey deny everything. E talk say e never know about the payments to jihadist groups. During the trial, e insist say e dey tell truth and e innocent. “If I don hear about this thing before…” e talk but court no gree. The French justice say na im be the main architect of the payment system to terrorist groups because e dey the top of the hierarchy.
The court say Bruno Lafont make pure economic choice to keep the Syria factory running during war. The judgment talk say e decide to maintain activity for the Syria plant even when things don dey hot. But the man lawyer don already announce say dem go appeal the judgment and dem go apply for bail.
This Bruno Lafont na the same person wey arrange the merger between Lafarge and Swiss company Holcim for 2015. The merger na to create world number one cement giant. But the Swiss people no too want am to lead the new company because dem see am like “Bonaparte” wey dey too control things. Still, e manage to save im position and become co-president for two years.
When e first become Lafarge chairman for 2007, Bruno Lafont face construction crisis wey dey affect Europe that time. E shift the company focus to emerging markets where infrastructure and housing needs dey higher. But some of these moves risky – like when dem invest big for Egypt and Arab Spring come paralyze the country economy.
The man also try to reduce Lafarge heavy debt of 16 billion euros to improve the company rating with credit agencies. But the debt too much make am realize say the company no fit stand alone. E consider joining with competitors like German Heidelberg Cement or Mexican Cemex but finally choose Swiss Holcim for what e call “merger between equals.”
Other people for the case get their own. Jean-Louis Beffa, former boss of Saint-Gobain wey dey also for construction materials market, talk to AFP say: “I propose to Lafarge many times to merge. But dem prefer to become Swiss with Holcim.”
Now Bruno Lafont dey behind bars while im lawyer dey prepare appeal. The case don set precedent for how companies fit dey hold responsible for their activities for conflict zones. The judgment show say even big business decisions wey look like pure economic choices fit carry serious legal consequences when dem involve illegal activities.
For the court, the evidence show say the payments to jihadist groups no just help keep factory open but also contribute to terrorist activities wey affect France directly. This na why the sentence heavy and the immediate imprisonment no dey joke. The French justice send strong message say terrorism financing matter no be small thing, even when big multinational companies dey involved.
As night fall for Paris, one former business titan dey begin six years prison journey. The man wey once control global cement empire now dey face new reality of prison walls. The case go continue as appeal process begin, but for now, justice don speak with one voice.
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