On Monday, July 25, 2022, the trial of Ike Ngouoni, head of Gabonese presidential communications from 2017 to November 2019 and imprisoned for three years, began in Gabon Circa. He is accused of embezzlement of public funds, concession and money laundering.

The former presidential spokesperson appeared before the court accompanied by his former assistant, who was facing the same charges. According to the president of the court, Ike Ngouoni is required to justify the management he allegedly made of 7.2 billion CFA francs during the exercise of his duties as president at the risk of facing “20 years in prison and a fine of 100 million CFA francs”. During this first day of hearing, when questioned about the origin of the funds in question, the defense replied that the money “came from a private account of the Head of State.”

The Public Prosecutor then added that these funds came from the “Treasury as well”, and to the court to decide: these are public funds, hence the correctness of the prosecution. As for the beneficiaries of the funds, namely deputies and opponents, Ike defended himself: “It was to protect the image of the President of the Republic, to defend his politics, his wife and his children. It was part of my duties as political adviser to the president.” Suspended at 18:00, the hearing resumed on Tuesday, July 26 with oral arguments.