…Baltasar Engonga has been apprehended.
The new surveillance policy is designed to prevent actions that may compromise public trust and the ethical standards anticipated of public servants.
The Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teddy Nguema, has revealed plans to implement surveillance cameras in every government office. This initiative is part of a continuous effort to enforce compliance with public service regulations and address misconduct among officials.
WITHIN NIGERIA has learned that Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, was arrested for allegedly recording more than 400 sex tapes featuring the wives of prominent individuals in the country. The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation involving the 54-year-old economist, which led ANIF officials to conduct an unannounced search of his home and office, where they discovered numerous CDs that exposed his sexual encounters with various married women.
The CCTV initiative, announced in an X post on Tuesday, highlighted the administration’s dedication to transparency and accountability, according to him.
“We have implemented this measure to ensure adherence to the laws governing public officials and to eliminate inappropriate and illegal behavior,” it stated. The new surveillance policy is designed to discourage actions that could erode public trust and the ethical standards required of public servants. Authorities have made it clear that any violations captured on camera will result in severe consequences. “We will not tolerate any actions that undermine the integrity of our administration, and those involved in such practices will face strict penalties,” it added. While the government stressed that this initiative is vital for fostering a culture of accountability, it has elicited mixed reactions from public sector employees and human rights advocates.
Some officials consider it a positive move towards reform, while others express concerns about potential privacy issues. The timeline for the full implementation and the specific scope of the surveillance have not yet been clarified. However, the government has assured that the initiative is in line with existing legal frameworks designed to enhance governance and protect public resources. The Vice President emphasized that the installation of surveillance systems in state offices represents a firm stance against corruption and misconduct, marking a significant step toward fostering transparency and trust within public service.
“The government will soon begin installing surveillance cameras in all state offices. We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the laws governing public officials and to eliminate improper and illegal behavior. We will not tolerate any actions that undermine the integrity of our administration, and those who engage in such practices will face severe consequences,” the post, translated from Spanish by Google Translate, stated.
Earlier on Monday, the Vice President announced that the government would immediately suspend any officials involved in sexual relations within ministry offices, as this violates the Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law. He stated that this decisive action reinforces a zero-tolerance policy towards behavior that compromises the integrity of public service.
“Today, we will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who have engaged in sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries. The government will take strict measures against these actions, as they represent a blatant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law. This initiative is a crucial step in our zero-tolerance policy regarding behaviors that undermine the integrity of public service. Ethics and respect are fundamental to our administration, and we will not permit irresponsible behavior to jeopardize public trust. Responsibility and professionalism must be the cornerstones of our work as public servants.”
