Nigeria, Sept. 26 -- The former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, has been sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with illegal campaign financing tied to Libya during his 2007 presidential run.

Mr Sarkozy was found guilty by the Paris Criminal Court on Thursday after a three-month trial that involved 11 defendants, including three former ministers and Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine.

Although the Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy relating to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

According to th...