Viral claims indicating that the embattled former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been released from prison are entirely false.
The Eagle Online reports that Engonga remains incarcerated inside Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison.
This is despite social media rumours suggesting he was freed after serving a two-year sentence.
No official announcement, court record, government statement, or presidential pardon has been issued regarding his release.
Recall that in August 2025, Engonga was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Bioko Provincial Tribunal for embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office in the: “Treasury Affair.”
His imprisonment specifically involved the diversion of state money disguised as professional travel allowances.
Alongside his prison term, he was ordered to pay a $220,000 fine and public treasury restitution.
Hence, the reports claiming he served a “two-year sentence” conflate the timing of his original arrest.
A search via Google also indicated: “Baltasar Ebang Engonga (widely known as Egonga) has not been released from prison.
“Despite widespread, recurring rumors on social media claiming he has completed his sentence, he remains incarcerated in Equatorial Guinea.”
Engonga made global headlines in November 2024 when a massive trove of explicit videos was leaked online while he was in pre-trial detention.
The Supreme Court of Equatorial Guinea ultimately cleared him of charges related to the explicit tapes because the encounters involved consenting adults.
However, he was never cleared of his severe financial crimes and continues to serve his eight-year sentence.
