John Okoro
Balthazar Engonga Ebang, the ex-chief of Equatorial Guinea’s National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), stands accused of fraud and could serve up to 18 years behind bars if convicted.
The high-profile trial, unfolding this week, centers on serious allegations of financial wrongdoing.
Proceedings commenced on June 30 with Ebang and multiple government officials tied to a finance ministry corporation in the dock. The ex-ANIF director faces explosive charges of embezzlement, illegal wealth accumulation, and misuse of authority. Investigators claim he siphoned off staggering sums exceeding 1 billion CFA francs (roughly $1.67 million) during his tenure.
Prosecutors are pushing for severe punishments: eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, plus six years and one day for abuse of power. They also seek a crushing 910 million CFA fine and want Ebang permanently barred from public service during his incarceration.
Ebang’s legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing the case as a baseless witch hunt against their client and co-defendants.
The disgraced official first made headlines in 2024 when compromising private videos surfaced online. Now, he contends with mounting legal troubles as this corruption scandal unfolds. A final judgment remains pending.
Grace Effiong
