Ex-Gabon Oga Wife And Pikin Dem Chop 20 Years For Corruption

A Gabon court don sentence ex-first lady Sylvia Bongo, 62, and her pikin Noureddin Bongo, 33, to 20 years prison after two-day graft trial. Di court try dem for absentia, find dem guilty of embezzlement of public funds and other charges. Wife of ex-leader Ali Bongo, wey family rule Gabon for 55 years, don accused say she use her husband take collect taxpayers money. She don deny all di charges, while her pikin call di trial “legal farce” for interview. Ex-president Ali Bongo no dey face prosecution.

Di Bongos, wey get French passport, don accused say dem exploit their sick papa, wey suffer stroke for 2018, take run Gabon for personal gain. Dem bin arrested after di 2023 coup wey remove Ali Bongo from power, detain dem 20 months, then release dem go London on medical grounds. Ten former allies still dey trial for same matter. Prosecutor talk say witness talk show how public funds dey divert for private interest. Di Bongos don also sue for France say dem suffer torture while detained. Dem insist say if dem go face law, na real independent court dem want, no court wey di government dey control.