A senior government official in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, popularly known as “Bello”, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement in a scandal that shook the nation with both financial crimes and viral sex tapes.

The Bioko provincial court found Engonga guilty of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars through fake travel claims for personal gain, according to Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo.

Engonga, a married former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, first hit global headlines last November when explicit sex tapes leaked online. The videos, some allegedly filmed in his Finance Ministry office, featured him with wives of fellow senior officials.

The scandal triggered a storm of online ridicule, sparking parody songs, skits, and viral dance challenges, with even a cheeky reference appearing in Burna Boy’s hit track “Tatata.”

Alongside five other senior officials, Engonga was ordered to pay a $220,000 fine in addition to serving his prison sentence.

The case has fueled fresh debates about corruption and abuse of office within Equatorial Guinea’s ruling elite, in a country long criticized for lack of transparency despite its vast oil wealth.

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A tragic helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of eight people, including two prominent government officials. The Ghana Air Force helicopter went down in the Adansi Akrofuom district on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, during a flight from Accra to Obuasi.

Among the victims were Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Several other government officials and crew members also perished in the crash.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed profound sorrow over the loss and has directed that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide for a week in honour of the deceased. The government has also launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the crash, with initial reports indicating bad weather may have played a role.

This incident marks one of the deadliest air disasters involving government officials in Ghana’s recent history, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the country and beyond.

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Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – The high-profile corruption trial of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, former director-general of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), began on June 30.

Engonga, known for his leaked sextapes, faces charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office.

The prosecution alleges Engonga orchestrated an elaborate scheme to siphon off public funds during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) from 2015 to 2020.

The national prosecutor has requested an exceptionally heavy sentence: 8 years for embezzlement, 4 years and 5 months for illicit enrichment, and 6 years and 1 day for abuse of office.

The charges also carry a proposed fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million) and a ban on holding public office.

Engonga’s defense team has condemned the charges as politically motivated and challenged the credibility of the evidence.

The trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this week. Six other former senior civil servants are also accused of misappropriating funds in a widespread network of financial malpractice.
A verdict is expected in the coming days.

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President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

He succeeds Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who held the position for the past two years.

The announcement was made during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, held on Sunday in Abuja.

In his inaugural address, Bio outlined four strategic priorities for his tenure: restoring constitutional order, strengthening democracy, revitalising regional security, advancing economic integration, and reinforcing institutional credibility across the bloc.

“As Chair, I will prioritise four key areas: first, restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy.

“We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.

“Second, revitalising regional security cooperation, we must overhaul our collective security architecture, from intelligence sharing to rapid response, to confront new threats with unity and resolve.

“Third, unlocking economic integration. The ECOWAS liberalisation scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains must become engines of jobs, trade, and resilience. Fourth, building institutional credibility.

“ECOWAS must reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people,” he said.

Earlier, President Tinubu officially handed over the mantle of leadership during the high-level meeting, which brought together heads of state and key regional stakeholders.

“As I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa.

“I remain confident that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability, and prosperity for our people and our region,” Tinubu said.

Tinubu was first elected as ECOWAS Chairman on July 9, 2023, during a summit in Guinea-Bissau.

He was re-elected in 2024 in Abuja, following a unanimous decision by member states to uphold continuity and stability in the region’s leadership. (NAN)

Bola Tinubu demands activation of ECOWAS Standby Force

Meanwhile president Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday reflected on the delayed activation of the Standby Force floated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He tasked leaders of the regional to move decisively from “concept to operational reality” in the region’s battle against terrorism and transnational crimes.

Speaking during his opening address at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, President Tinubu, before bowing out as chairman, underscored the urgent need for collective security measures amid rising insecurity across the sub-region.

Tinubu said: “I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired. The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality”.

He warned that security threats facing West Africa are no longer confined within borders and are increasingly driven by agile, dangerous, and borderless networks.

“No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure our region”, he stressed.

President Tinubu used the platform to highlight key milestones achieved under his chairmanship, including progress in regional military logistics.

He pointed to the completion of the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, as a significant step toward building a responsive security architecture.

“With the depot’s completion, Nigeria is committing itself to sea-lift and air-lift arrangements with ECOWAS. Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union to reinforce this commitment”, he announced.

He also reflected on diplomatic efforts to reintegrate Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have been suspended from the bloc following military takeovers.

While acknowledging the setbacks, Tinubu expressed cautious optimism.

“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” he said.

On the economic front, Tinubu reiterated the importance of regional cooperation and integration, lamenting the persistently low levels of intra-regional trade despite the bloc’s potential.

“Our intra-regional trade remains low, even as we possess the potential to be an economic powerhouse. We must create the enabling environment, empower the private sector, and create the conditions necessary for innovation to flourish”, Tinubu noted.

He urged speedy implementation of key infrastructure projects, identifying the West African Gas Pipeline, West African Power Pool, and Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway as critical levers for boosting development and economic connectivity across member states.

“Our future demands action, not hesitation,” he declared, reinforcing his belief that regional peace, prosperity, and security can only be achieved through collective will and purpose-driven leadership.

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Renowned Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87.

Born in 1938, he is remembered as one of Africa’s most influential postcolonial voices.

With a literary career spanning nearly six decades, he documented Kenya’s transformation from a British colony to an independent democracy.

His works often critiqued both the colonial regime and the complexities of post-independence governance.

Weep Not, Child , his debut novel published in 1964, was the first by an East African writer to be published in English.

In the 1970s he made a bold shift, deciding to writing in his native language, Kikuyu.

In 2022, he was awarded the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature, one of the most prestigious honors conferred by PEN America.

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