Baltasar Engonga, the former Director-General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, is facing a potential 18-year prison sentence as his corruption trial continues to grip national attention.
Okay.ng reports that Engonga, once a prominent figure in the country’s anti-corruption efforts, is now standing trial for embezzlement of public funds, unlawful enrichment, and abuse of office during his tenure at the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance between 2015 and 2020.
Detained since September 2024 at the notorious Black Beach Prison, Engonga’s legal troubles escalated on Monday when national prosecutors laid out a proposed sentence comprising 8 years for embezzlement, 4 years and 5 months for unlawful enrichment, and 6 years and 1 day for abuse of office.
Prosecutors are also pushing for a fine of 910 million CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million or ₦2.2 billion) and a total ban from holding public office for the duration of the sentence.
Authorities allege that Engonga orchestrated a sophisticated financial scheme to siphon public funds for personal enrichment, severely impacting public sector development in the oil-rich Central African nation.
Adding to the scandal’s sensational nature, investigators reportedly uncovered over 400 sex tapes during raids on Engonga’s residence and private office.
The footage, allegedly recorded with consent, features wives and relatives of top ministers, security chiefs, and high-ranking officials. Many of the tapes have since leaked online, causing public outrage and prompting calls for a broader probe.
Engonga is not the only figure in the dock. Six other former top officials, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, are also facing charges linked to what prosecutors describe as a large-scale graft syndicate that systematically looted state resources.
As the high-profile trial unfolds in Malabo, pressure continues to mount on Equatorial Guinea’s government to reinforce anti-corruption reforms, enhance public transparency, and demonstrate that no official is above the law.
