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Equatorial Guinea restricts WhatsApp, installs CCTV

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The Government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed a restriction on its citizens, prohibiting the downloading and sharing of multimedia files via mobile data on WhatsApp.

This move comes after the government issued directives to telecommunications companies, urging them to implement measures that would limit access to inappropriate content.

Also, the government suspended all civil servants who have had sexual relations in the offices of the ministries.

Another measure was the installation of surveillance cameras in all government offices.

The tapes
Hundreds of sex tapes involving a high-ranking Equatorial Guinean civil servant with other mens’ wives have done the rounds on social media, prompting the authorities to attempt to curb their spread.

In the videos the married director of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), Baltasar Ebang Engonga, is seen with various partners – including the wives of prominent officials – at his office in the finance ministry.

On Monday, the country’s vice president Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue announced on X that the government would order the “immediate suspension of all civil servants who have had sexual relations in the offices of the ministries, as this constitutes a flagrant violation of the code of conduct and the law on public ethics”.

It is not the first time that sex tapes involving civil servants have been leaked on social media.

But the affair has blown up to unprecedented proportions due to the notoriety of the officials involved.

Last week, Obiang said that he had given 24 hours’ notice to Equatorial Guinea’s telecommunications ministry, regulator and telephone companies “to curb the distribution of pornographic videos that are flooding social networks in Equatorial Guinea”.

“As the government, we cannot continue to see families destroyed,” said the vice-president in charge of defence and security.

According to accounts first spread by Whatsapp groups and then posted to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X, Engonga shot more than 400 pornographic videos in his office.

Nicknamed “Bello” on account of his good looks, Ebang Engonga is a married father and the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current Chairman of the Commission of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community.

He is also related to the country’s long-serving president.

The sex tapes were leaked on social networks at a time when he had been remanded in custody at Malabo’s infamous Black Beach prison in a case of embezzlement of public funds, according to state television station TVGE.

Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor Anatolio Nzang Nguema, assured TVGE that if medical examinations revealed that Ebang Engonga was “infected with a sexually transmitted disease” he would be prosecuted for an offence against “public health”.

The flow of internet traffic, and in particular the downloading of images, has been severely disrupted in the country after the authorities took measures to curb the sex tapes’ spread, witnesses told AFP.

Social media is awash with speculation that more videos involving other individuals, both men and women, could be released in the next few days.

CCTV
In another post on Tuesday, the vice president said the government would install surveillance cameras in all government offices.

“We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour.

“We will not admit any fault that denigrates the integrity of our administration and those who engage in these practices will face drastic measures,” he wrote.

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Nothing wrong having a Christian as Alaafin of Oyo, says Oladigbolu

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Rahman Oladigbolu, a Nigerian filmmaker, says he sees no reason why the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian.

Two years ago, Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, died at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, after battling an undisclosed illness.

He was 83 years old and had been on the throne for 52 years — the longest-reigning Nigerian monarch at the time.

Since his death, the throne has been vacant.

Speaking in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo, Oladigbolu, a prince in the Oyo kingdom, said religion should not be a factor in the selection of the next Alaafin.

“In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king. It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim,” he said.

“Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of course, if you can have a Muslim Alaafin, I see no reason you can’t have a Christian Alaafin.

“The whole point should be to ensure that people would not be talking about religion in issues like this, but it is difficult because of the agenda of people wanting to impose their religion on others.

“So these are where all the problems still lie, and until we’re able to understand it, I don’t see how we can move forward.”

Oladigbolu said education and enlightenment are necessary to solve division caused by religion.

“It is only enlightenment that can carry people to the point where religious considerations no longer matter in societal affairs,” he said.

“When people are enlightened to the point where it doesn’t, then it won’t.

“But today, they still see each other from their religious prism because even the behavior of people that occupy positions in society gets influenced by religion.”

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Tinubu writes senate, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation as COAS

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President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the senate seeking confirmation of Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of the late Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.

On November 5, Lagbaja died of an undisclosed illness.

Onanuga said Tinubu is “confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience” of Oluyede for the leadership of the army.

Before his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the infantry corps of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the position of major general in September 2020.

Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th regular course.

Recently, Oluyede was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

He has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and operation Hadin Kai in the north-east theatre of operations.

He was also the commander of the 27 task force brigade.

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Supreme court nullifies enforcement of National Lottery Act in 36 states

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The supreme court has nullified the enforcement of provisions of the National Lottery Act 2005 in the 36 states of the federation.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the seven-member panel held that the national assembly lacks the powers to legislate on issues pertaining to lottery and gaming.

In March 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the national lottery bill into law.

The legislation provides the framework for the operation of the national lottery and the establishment of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

The commission is charged with regulating the business of lottery in Nigeria as well as establishing the national lottery trust fund.

In 2008, the Lagos state government filed a suit against the federal government on whether the control and regulation of gaming and lottery businesses in each state is under the exclusive list.

In October 2020, the Ekiti government joined Lagos as co-plaintiff in the suit.

In November 2022, the supreme court joined 33 state governments as co-defendants in the suit.

In the judgment, the apex court ruled that only state assemblies have the powers to legislate on lottery and gaming businesses.

The supreme court ruled that legislation cannot be enforced in all states, except the federal capital territory (FCT), since the national assembly is empowered to make laws for the country’s capital.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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