Constant Omari Blasts DR Congo Sports Minister After His Detention Over Alleged Corruption

DR Congo FA president Constant Omari Selemani has accused the country's sports minister Papy Nyango of witch-hunting following his incarceration for corruption, money-laundering and terrorism.

The CAF 2nd Vice President who also doubles up as FIFA Council member was held at the public prosecutor's office in Kinshasa.

A statement from the office of Luzolo Bambi, a special adviser to Congo President Joseph Kabila, said the four officials were questioned on suspicion of embezzlement.

After his release, Omari thanked the government for the speedy resolution to the impasse.

''I first want to thank the justice department for the quick resolution to the falsehood and malice spread against me that led to my unwarranted arrest with some of my colleagues.Its unfortunate that some people are using lies, falsehood and jealousy to try and intimidate me for no reasons,'' he told soka25east.com

''The Sports Minister is the person who instigated my arrest using framed up charges as he tried to use his office to silence me and humiliate me without any proof.

''It's absolutely shameful that he is bringing up the false accusations trying to cause panic by casting aspersions about me to my colleagues both at CAF and FIFA so as to soil my name just because he is jealous of my achievements in football and the reputation I have painfully build across the World.

''If at all I was corrupt and was in the wrong then why was I released without any charges levelled against me?

''It's clear that the prosecutor's office found no mistake nor any proof and that the accusations were fabricated because some people have hidden agenda and vendetta against me and my colleagues.''

The 60-year-old, elected to the FIFA Council in 2015 is one of seven Africans on the 37-member board.

Already a member of CAF's executive committee, he was promoted to become one of two vice-presidents of the African confederation last year upon President Ahmad election as CAF President in 2017.

After his arrest, the league in DR Congo was suspended in a show of ''solidarity'' with Omari and the two other federation officials claiming they have been ''humiliated and unjustly deprived of their liberty.''