Former President Nicolas Sarkozy has accused the French justice system of trying to "destroy" him, after he was charged in a corruption probe.

The former conservative party leader was questioned over a highly publicized judicial investigation linked to allegations he took 50 million euros ($67 million) in illegal campaign funds from Libya's Moammar Gadhafi years ago.

Sarkozy told TF1 TV and Europe-1 radio in an interview aired Wednesday he was detained a day earlier at Paris police headquarters out of "a desire to humiliate me."

He denied the claims and said "a part of the justice system is being used for political purposes."

It comes as the 59-year-old's political comeback has been floated by his faltering UMP party.