Baltasar Ebang Engonga, known popularly as “Bello,” stood trial before the Malabo court on June 30, 2025, facing sweeping allegations of financial misconduct that have gripped Equatorial Guinea’s public and political landscape.
The former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) has been held in custody for ten months at the notorious Black Beach Prison.
Engonga, once a powerful figure at the helm of Equatorial Guinea’s anti-financial crime body, is accused of embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, and abuse of power.
His court appearance marks the beginning of what observers say may become one of the country’s most consequential corruption cases in recent memory.
Alongside Engonga, several other senior officials are implicated in the ongoing investigation, although details about the scope of their involvement remain closely guarded by judicial authorities.
The charges against Engonga stem from an extensive probe into the financial dealings within ANIF during his tenure.
Prosecutors allege that Engonga used his position to divert substantial public funds for personal gain and granted preferential treatment in violation of the law.
The court is expected to examine bank records, property holdings, and financial transactions in what promises to be a lengthy and complex trial.
Public interest in the case is high, not only because of Engonga’s prominence but also due to growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in Equatorial Guinea’s public institutions.
While the accused has not made any public statement, legal analysts suggest that the trial could test the government’s commitment to combatting corruption within its own ranks.
The Malabo court has yet to set a date for subsequent hearings, but proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
Engonga’s case may serve as a litmus test for Equatorial Guinea’s judicial independence and willingness to confront elite impunity in one of Africa’s most oil-rich, yet politically opaque, nations.
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