In a dramatic climax to one of Equatorial Guinea’s most explosive corruption scandals in recent history, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by a criminal court in Malabo.
Engonga, 47, who once held the nation’s top anti-corruption post, was found guilty on multiple charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office. Prosecutors accused him of diverting more than 1 billion CFA francs—roughly $1.5 million—in public funds during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) from 2015 to 2020.
The court handed down a combined sentence of 18 years: eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of power. In addition to the lengthy prison term, Engonga was fined an amount equal to the stolen sum and permanently barred from holding any public office.
The verdict marks a rare and highly visible move against elite corruption in the oil-rich Central African country, where senior government officials have long faced criticism for misuse of public funds and lack of transparency.
Engonga’s trial, which opened on July 1, captured widespread public and international interest not only for the scale of financial misconduct but also due to a scandalous twist: over 400 explicit videos were uncovered during the investigation. The videos, which reportedly featured Engonga in intimate acts with multiple women—including relatives of top-ranking officials—were allegedly filmed in government offices, including his Ministry of Finance workspace. The footage caused a national uproar and led to his dismissal from ANIF by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in November 2024.
Adding to the complexity, Engonga is a nephew of President Obiang, whose nearly five-decade rule has come under increased scrutiny for tolerating impunity among political insiders. Engonga had been held at the notorious Black Beach Prison since September 2024, following his arrest.
Throughout the trial, Engonga’s defense maintained that the proceedings were politically charged, designed to neutralize dissenting voices within the ruling elite. They questioned the integrity of the prosecution’s evidence and emphasized his family ties to the president. However, the court ruled that the documentation and financial trails provided by investigators offered irrefutable proof of wrongdoing.
The case has ignited fresh calls for accountability and reform within Equatorial Guinea’s government. Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue publicly condemned the scandal and hinted at forthcoming policy reforms aimed at restoring public confidence. “There will be no tolerance for actions that undermine our institutions and dishonor the people’s trust,” he declared earlier this week.
In the wake of the scandal, authorities have also announced intentions to strengthen national privacy and data protection laws—both to preserve the integrity of state institutions and to prevent future misuse of government resources or facilities for personal affairs.
As Engonga’s legal team prepares to file an appeal, the nation waits to see whether the court’s decision signals a genuine shift toward reform—or merely a symbolic act in a long history of selective justice. Meanwhile, attention now turns to possible co-conspirators in the embezzlement scheme, with names expected to surface in upcoming legal proceedings.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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