Are we moving towards trials for corruption and money laundering? Olivier N'Zahou has confirmed the rumors about the arrests of several public and parapublic administration officials close to Ali Bongo's former chief of staff. They are suspected of corruption and money laundering.

We know a little more about the reasons for the questioning and arrests, since the past week, of certain administrative officials. On November 18, on the plateau of Gabon 1st, the public prosecutor Olivier N'Zahou affirmed that "following precise and serious information", the public prosecutor's office opened a series of investigations. “These investigations relate to suspicions of large-scale corruption and money laundering which may involve public officials and private companies,” he said. According to the latter, as part of these investigations, "several officials from public administrations, parastatals and banking establishments have been arrested and some of them are currently in custody, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 38, 40, 56, 66 of the new Criminal Procedure Code, and 506 of the new Criminal Code”.

If he said nothing about the identities of the people involved, several personalities were arrested the day after their dismissal, which took place during the Council of Ministers on November 7. After the arrest of the former director general of the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS), Renaud Allogho Akoue, and the former director general of the Equatorial Mining Company (Sem), Ismaël Ondias Souna, several executives would be in the nets of Justice.

To the BLA system trial

Among these, according to concordant sources, are the general manager of the Caisse de depot et consignation (CDC), Hermann Nzoundou Bignoumba, the former general manager of Gabon oil company (Goc), Patrichi Tanasa Mbadinga, his adviser, Lionel Diambou, the former deputy general manager of Gabon oil marketing (Gom), Jérémy Ayong Julien, the former administrative and financial director of the Office des ports et harbors du Gabon (Oprag), Engongah Ovono,

The release of Olivier N'Zahou suggests that the procedure has officially begun. According to article 506 of the new Penal Code brandished by the public prosecutor, the defendants could be punished "with a sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of more than 100 million CFA francs". We may be heading towards the trial of the “BLA system”, given the proximity of the people arrested and the former chief of staff of Ali Bongo, Brice Laccruche Alihanga (BLA).