Former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been ordered by an Equatorial Guinean court to be remanded in prison.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, 54, is a prominent government official in Equatorial Guinea with a long history in public service, beginning his career in 1998 as the Minister of Education. He is a father of six and the former director of the nation’s anti-graft agency, the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).
He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement. In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.
Last week, Baltasar Engonga was arrested for allegedly having extramarital relationships with the sister of the country’s president and the wives of notable people.
Engonga who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison.
According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”
His tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.
The video showed contacts with high-profile individuals such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the President of Equatorial Guinea’s sister, the Director-General of Police’s wife, and the wives of over 20 of the country’s ministries, among others.
The tapes, which circulated on social media, reportedly surfaced following the unrelated arrest of Engonga, former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, on corruption charges. Mangue has ordered regulators and internet service providers to block further dissemination of the videos.
According to the country’s attorney general, although the recordings appear to be consensual, Engonga could still face charges related to “public health crimes” if any sexually-transmitted infection is linked to him.
First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang also voiced her displeasure, describing the scandal as “embarrassing” and expressing deep disappointment in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue.
She labeled the incident a “social scandal” that has tarnished the image of Equatorial Guinean women beyond the country’s borders.
