Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – Baltasar Engonga Ebang, the former Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), is standing trial for alleged financial misconduct linked to his management of a state-owned company under the Ministry of Finance. The high-profile case, which commenced on Monday, July 1, 2025, has gripped the nation, with prosecutors seeking an 18-year prison sentence and a fine of nearly one billion CFA francs (approximately £1.2 million).
The trial, expected to conclude after three days, involves charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of power. Prosecutors allege that Engonga orchestrated an elaborate scheme to siphon off public funds, personally amassing over 910 million CFA francs, much of which was reportedly spent on lavish lifestyles and personal indulgences. The prosecution described the case as “one of the largest financial betrayals of public trust in recent memory,” citing evidence such as bank transfers, offshore accounts, and forged contracts.
Engonga, who has been detained at Black Beach prison since September 2024, appeared in court alongside several other former senior officials implicated in the scandal. The prosecution’s case focuses on Engonga’s tenure at the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) between 2015 and 2020, where he allegedly collaborated with others to misappropriate funds. The requested penalties include eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of office, alongside the substantial fine and a proposed ban on holding public office.
The defence has vehemently rejected all charges, arguing that the accusations lack sufficient evidence and are politically motivated. However, court observers noted that Engonga remained largely silent during the proceedings, with the presiding judge ruling on Wednesday that the evidence presented was overwhelming.
Engonga, a well-connected figure and son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current Chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, rose to infamy in late 2024 following a separate scandal involving viral sex tapes. That controversy led to his dismissal from ANIF and intensified scrutiny of his financial dealings.
