News
S3xtape: Equatorial Guinea govt fires anti-graft boss nabbed with clips of many women
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The government of Equatorial Guinea has fired Baltasar Ebang Engonga as Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) after a series of sex tapes involving him and multiple women surfaced online.
It wrote, according to Real Equatorial Guinea, the dismissal of Mr. Engonga, the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo (current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, CEMAC), was formalized in Decree No. 118/2024, dated November 4.
The decree cited Mr. Engonga’s alleged misconduct in office and his family-related and social behavior as incompatible with public office.”
In response to the scandal, the First Lady of Equatorial Guinea, Mrs. Obiang, took to Facebook on Wednesday to call for immediate government action to protect the dignity of Equatoguinean women in the digital age.
Her office emphasised that while progress has been made in gender equality, proactive measures are necessary not only to address such incidents but to prevent them. “It is essential to create a safe and respectful environment for all women,” she said.
Prime Minister Osa Nsue also acknowledged the damaging impact of the situation, particularly on the country’s public image and gender equality initiatives.
He highlighted that the government was considering stricter privacy laws in light of the scandal. “The Government of Equatorial Guinea, aware of the impact of social media and the growing presence of private content on digital platforms, is contemplating strengthening laws related to privacy and personal data protection to prevent further violations of citizens’ rights,” said Mr. Nsue.
He added that the case had sparked a broader discussion on the boundaries of privacy in the digital age, urging for a comprehensive approach involving legislation, education, and social awareness to curb the spread of inappropriate online content.
Both the First Lady and Prime Minister expressed a shared commitment to restore public trust in institutions and safeguard the reputation of Equatoguinean women. They discussed potential strategies to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Meanwhile, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has ordered the country’s telecommunications ministry, regulator, and mobile providers to take action against the viral distribution of pornographic videos.
He stressed that the government cannot allow families to suffer due to the widespread circulation of Engonga’s video.
In a move to curb the spread of inappropriate content, the government imposed restrictions on the sharing of multimedia files over mobile data on platforms like WhatsApp. Local news outlet Ahora EG reported that citizens were frustrated by the new limitations, as they were forced to rely on Wi-Fi connections to share media.
The leak of the tapes is believed to have occurred while Mr. Engonga was incarcerated at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach prison for embezzling public funds.
In a related development, Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, assured the public that if medical tests confirmed Engonga had a sexually transmitted disease, he would be prosecuted for endangering public health.
Further to the ongoing investigation, Vice President Nguema announced that surveillance cameras would be installed in all state agency offices.
He explained that this initiative is part of efforts to ensure compliance with civil service laws, improve accountability, and tackle official misconduct.
“We will not tolerate any actions that tarnish the integrity of our administration,” he said, stressing that individuals involved in misconduct would face strict measures.
Additionally, he introduced a ban on sexual relations in the workplace, warning that any officer caught engaging in such behavior would face immediate dismissal.
“The ministries are solely and exclusively for carrying out administrative tasks in favor of the country’s development. It is forbidden to have sexual relations in offices,” he stated.
Recall TribuneOnline reported earlier that Baltasar Ebang Engonga had an intimate situations with several women, with sex tapes, reportedly over 400 in number some of whom are linked to high-profile figures in the country.
This prompted the government to suspend him initially, and subsequently, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo ordered his dismissal. (Tribune, excluding headline)
The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has approved the appointment of Mr Andrew Ogbonnaya Nwoba as the Clerk to the Senate.
The Commission approved the appointment, which takes effect from December 11, 2024, at its meeting held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Before his appointment, Nwoba was the Secretary of the Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning.
A statement by the NASC Deputy Director (Information), Mr Emmanuel Anyigor, said that the Commission also endorsed the promotion of other key officers of the National Assembly bureaucracy.
According to the statement, “Mr Emmanuel Odo was appointed Deputy Clerk (Administration) Senate, while Vivien N. Njemanze was appointed Deputy Clerk (Administration) House of Representatives.
“Also, Dr Obasi D. Ukoha is now the Secretary of the Directorate of legislative Budget and Planning.
“On the other hand, Mr Rawlings Agada was deployed from his former position of Deputy Clerk (Administration) Senate to Deputy Clerk (Legislative) Senate while Florence Kehinde A. was deployed from her former position as deputy Clerk (Administration) House of Representatives to Deputy Clerk (Legislative) House of Representatives.”
The statement said that the Commission had earlier approved the appointment of Ogundayo Mofoluwake Olufunmilayo as Secretary of the Directorate of Special Duties; Alkali Umar Abubakar as the Secretary of the Directorate of Human Resources & Staff Development and Essien Eyo Essien as Secretary of the Directorate of Zonal Liaison Offices.
THE CONCLAVE
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized that affirmative action for women is not a privilege or an undemocratic measure but a necessary corrective step to promote fairness and achieve gender balance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In his keynote address at a session with Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, held to mark the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Speaker Abbas called for the integration of women’s and gender issues into the constitution, policies, statutes, and budgetary processes of the country. The session took place at the National Assembly on Monday.
Reflecting on the significance of the campaign, Speaker Abbas noted, “This action signified our resolve to combat violence against Nigerian women and to reinforce our collective commitment to creating a safer and more equitable society.”
He recalled leading an advocacy walk from the National Assembly to the Force Headquarters, where a petition was submitted to the Inspector General of Police; this, he said, demonstrated the resolve of lawmakers to address GBV comprehensively.
The Speaker commended the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which began on November 25, for uniting various stakeholders in the fight against GBV and the push for women’s empowerment across the nation. He highlighted the National Assembly’s leadership role in legislative reforms aimed at protecting women and promoting gender equity. These efforts include the enactment of key laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Child’s Rights Act, and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act.
Speaker Abbas stressed that the 10th House of Representatives has intensified these efforts through its Legislative Agenda, prioritizing constitutional amendments that will enhance women’s participation and representation in governance. He underscored the critical role women play, stating, “Women are the cornerstone of our families and communities, yet their political representation remains unacceptably low. This imbalance must change—not for improved statistics but for the transformative value women bring to governance, leadership, and policymaking.”
He further elaborated on the barriers hindering women’s full participation in political and public life, citing cultural norms, economic disparities, and insufficient legal protections as systemic obstacles. According to him, “A society that protects its women and leverages their potential is one that secures its future.”
To address these issues, the 10th Assembly has initiated constitutional amendment processes early, allowing time for thorough consultation and consensus-building. The House Committee on Constitution Amendment has been engaging stakeholders through sensitization and advocacy to garner support for provisions that institutionalize greater women’s representation.
“These efforts go beyond tokenism,” Speaker Abbas asserted. “Affirmative action for women is not undemocratic; it is a necessary corrective measure to address historical inequities and unlock our nation’s full potential. Many African countries, such as Rwanda and South Africa, have successfully enshrined affirmative action in their constitutions.”
The Speaker also acknowledged the critical role of state Houses of Assembly in advancing these reforms, urging state speakers to actively participate in ensuring that gender-focused constitutional amendments and legislation are adopted at the sub-national level.
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