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Mikel Arteta surveyed the wreckage of Arsenal’s controversial Champions League defeat at Inter Milan and insisted his spluttering side will emerge from the rubble to salvage their troubled season.
The Gunners crashed to a 1-0 loss in the San Siro on Wednesday, adding to the growing sense of turmoil around a team that was expected to mount a strong challenge for European and domestic silverware.
Arsenal dominated for large periods against Inter, but were left to rue a controversial penalty in first-half stoppage time when Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled.
Hakan Calhanoglu converted the spot-kick and Arsenal were unable to muster an equaliser as they fell to a second successive 1-0 defeat after Saturday’s Premier League loss at Newcastle.
The Gunners have won just two of their last six games in all competitions, with those victories hardly impressive against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.
Arteta’s team are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, already seven points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s crucial London derby at Chelsea.
Hampered for weeks by the absence of captain Martin Odegaard — who finally returned from injury as a late substitute against Inter — Arsenal have looked a shadow of the vibrant team that took last season’s title race to the final day of the season.
Odegaard’s creativity and tenacious pressing has been sorely missed, while Arteta has also had to deal with injuries to Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, as well as a rash of red cards that cost him the services of Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.
As if their on-pitch travails weren’t concerning enough, Arteta has seen his trusted sporting director Edu make a shock exit from the Emirates Stadium.
Edu, who has a agreed a deal in principle to accept a similar role at Nottingham Forest, resigned at the start of this week after overseeing a major revamp of Arsenal’s squad since joining in 2019.
– ‘Extremely frustrating’ –
The 46-year-old shared a strong bond with Arteta, with whom he has transformed Arsenal into title contenders.
“We have been together on this journey since day one. He was instrumental for me to be where I am and I loved working with him. I enjoyed the journey to have him next to me,” Arteta said of Edu just before kick-off in the San Siro.
Edu scored in Arsenal’s famous 5-1 win at Inter in the Champions League group stage 21 years ago.
But history did not repeat itself on Wednesday as Arsenal attempted 20 shots, their most without scoring in a Champions League game since 2006 against CSKA Moscow.
Arteta launched a staunch defence of his players, claiming they were denied by refereeing mistakes rather than their own failings against Inter.
“The worst thing is the result, because of the performance and attitude we showed against one of the best teams in Europe in their stadium,” he said.
“It’s extremely frustrating because there were two decisions against us. If their one is a penalty then we should have one when Mikel Merino is punched in the head.
“Of all the big games we have played in Europe, this was the best I have seen from my team in the last two years.”
Arsenal cannot afford another setback against Chelsea this weekend if they are to remain in the hunt for a first English title since 2004 after successive runners-up finishes.
Arteta stuck to his upbeat assessment of Arsenal’s unexpected plight, saying: “If we play the way we played tonight, the team has a big chance to win at Chelsea.
“That is the way we have to go. I have told them I am proud of them. We are disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game that is for sure.”
Despite Arteta’s optimism, there are worrying signs that Arsenal’s hopes of finally dethroning Manchester City might be destined to end in disappointment.
[Vanguard]
The Malaysian government has announced plans to phase out the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and end the sale of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the country.
Loke Siew Fook, minister of transport, spoke at a press conference recently, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), a local media organisation.
In Malaysia, CNG is referred to as NGV.
Fook said CNG-powered vehicles can no longer be registered or be used in Malaysia from July 1, 2025.
He also said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), a government-owned oil and gas company, will halt the sale of CNG at its stations in stages, starting on July 1, 2025.
The minister said with only about 44,383 NGVs currently in the country — accounting for 0.2 percent of vehicles in Malaysia, excluding motorcycles — the safety of road users and the public will be restored.
“The NGV tanks of these vehicles are now reaching the end of their service life and need to be replaced and NGV tanks typically have a safe usage period of 15 years,” Fook said.
He further said there are also some car owners who have modified their vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which are very dangerous.
The minister said the vehicles had caused explosions during accidents.
‘WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT PACKAGES FOR THE TRANSITION’
Fook said an assistance package aimed at helping owners of CNG-powered vehicles during the coming transition period has been put in place.
“Taxi drivers using NGV vehicles are eligible for a one-off RM3,000 e-voucher through Petronas’s Setel mobile app,” he said.
“They must have been registered with the Land Public Transport Agency before October 1.
“For dual-fuel vehicle owners, they can get their NGV kits removed for free at workshops selected by the transport ministry. Their vehicles must be registered with the road transport department (JPJ) before October 1.
“Lastly, for owners of purely NGV-powered vehicles, they are eligible for a one-off payment based on the current value of their vehicles, which will be determined by an independent appraiser.
“For this package, the vehicles must also have been registered with JPJ before October 1.
“Upon taking up the offer, the vehicles will be sent to an authorised automotive treatment facility to be disposed of and deregistered by JPJ.”
Fook said it is necessary to prevent the misuse of the vehicles or for any illegal modification to be carried out on them as it would endanger the public.
He said payments under the support package will be made within three to seven working days “of receiving a vehicle’s certificate of destruction and deregistration slip”.
Malaysia introduced the use of compressed natural gas in the late 1990s for taxicabs and airport limousines.
In Nigeria, the federal government is pushing for the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation.
The initiative, introduced by President Bola Tinubu as a measure to curb the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy on individuals, “attracted over $200 million in investments so far as the government plans to build 1,000 conversion centres” across the country.
[TheCable]
Olufemi Oluyede, acting chief of army staff, says President Bola Tinubu did everything possible to save Taoreed Lagbaja, late chief of army staff.
Lagbaja died after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56.
While Lagbaja was away on medical treatment, Tinubu promoted Oluyede to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, the entire army is in a sorrowful mood after losing its leader.
“It’s (Lagbaja’s death) highly regrettable,” Oluyede said.
“I mean the country as a whole under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did the very best for him to be alive with us today.
“But as we all know, we all belong to God and He takes when He feels necessary for him to do so.
“He was someone that gave his all to Nigeria. He was a selfless leader, very passionate about Nigeria and he led the Nigerian Army very well.
“He was courageous, he was known to be thorough and a professional to the core. So, it’s a big loss to us. And all we can say at this moment is that we pray that the good Lord will find a place for him to rest.”
The acting army chief said Lagbaja needs to be celebrated for giving his all to the country.
“I want Nigerians to actually celebrate him for the good work he did,” he said.
Oluyede prayed for the repose of the soul of the late army chief.
The Federal Government has revealed that a poor maintenance culture and inadequate and aged equipment, among other challenges, are the underlying reasons for the incessant multiple collapses of the national power grid witnessed in recent months.
It also stated that the high voltage of electricity surpassing the capacity of its equipment caused the blackout witnessed on October 14 and 19, 2024.
The Chairman of the investigative committee probing reasons for grid collapse, Nafisatu Asabe Ali, revealed this during the report presentation at ministry headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
This came barely 24 hours after the latest collapse that occurred on Tuesday, making it the 10th time the national grid would collapse in 2024 alone.
According to her, the investigative team observed similar challenges and problems affecting all stations during its probe.
She said the investigative team examined the grid collapse incident that occurred on October 14 and 19 and found out that the shattering of lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations and the explosion of a CT also in Jebba Station were reasons for both incidents.
According to her, “For the event on the 14th, lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo shattered. The one in Jebba was for the shunt reactor and this was caused by high voltage. Subsequently, we had the tripping of multiple 330kV lines. It kept going until it became major.
“The remote cause of that is the unavailability of the second reactor in Jebba, and that is because Jebba, by the design of the network and sometimes the topology of the network at a particular time is very prone to high voltage.”
We had two shunt reactors in Jebba before this event, however, one packed up. It is faulty, and so the voltage rose to about 400KV, which is beyond the threshold. High voltage degrades equipment insulation.
“If you expose equipment to high voltages for a long time, it degrades the insulation. And, of course, there’s a risk of failure. So, that was a remote cause for that. But the underlying causes are aged equipment. In our findings, we confirmed that Jebba was commissioned in 1968. Some of the equipment was commissioned alongside the substation. So, aged equipment. And maintenance culture is also an issue.”
The committee listed several factors affecting the management including vandalism of power infrastructures, lack of free governors at power generation plants, uncoordinated maintenance schedules, and lack of adequate human capacity.
Responding to this, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the ministry would push for additional funding from the 2024 Supplementary Budget and the 2025 Appropriation Bill to resolve the financial implications of strategies needed to curb the incessant grid collapse.
He expressed optimism that the frequent collapses of the Nigerian power grid system could be curbed with the implementation of far-reaching reforms, stating that “this incessant grid collapse, which is quite unfortunate and is worrisome to me personally as the Honorable Minister of Power overseeing this sector.”
Adelabu added that he would present an amended report to aid his submission to Tinubu owing to the financial implications.
He said, “Today’s meeting is to receive a report on the agency committee set up about two and a half weeks ago, to reveal the root cause of the incessant grid disturbances that we have experienced in the past few months. This is not good for us as a country. It is not good for us as a power sector. It is not good for us as a ministry of power and other agencies.”
The committee also listed recommendations for the audit and tests of existing equipment and improvement in maintenance of the transmission equipment and lines, installation of harmonics filters by Disco and Genco customers, decentralisation of TCN central store, enforcement of Free Governor Mode of Operation and removal of ad-lash taped optic fibre for Optical Ground Wires.
Nigeria’s former military and democratic leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, shared his story on Wednesday about how his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, reached out to numerous global leaders in her efforts to secure his release from jail.
Obasanjo was detained on March 17, 1995, by the military regime led by General Sani Abacha and found guilty of being involved in a plot to topple the military government.
Naija News recalls that despite this, Obasanjo became the elected civilian President in 1999.
The former President reflected on his political journey today while delivering a speech in Benin City during the inauguration of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which had been expanded and renovated by the government of Edo State.
The hospital, which was built and dedicated to Stella Obasanjo by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s government, was named in her honour.
In his speech as a special guest, Obasanjo expressed his admiration for his wife’s relentless efforts to secure his freedom.
Late Stella Obasanjo
He said: “When I was in prison, that woman left no stone unturned. She went all over the world to seek my release. She went to Japan, she went to the entire Europe, she went to the Vatican, she went to Latin America, she went through Africa, she left no stone unturned for my release and God answered her prayers and the prayers of all those praying for me, and I came out of prison alive.
“What could I do? I thought, coming out of prison, I’ve had it all. When we were planning for my wife’s 60th birthday anniversary, we never had that birthday anniversary before she died.
“It was very painful to me in particular and to all of us in my family. You can appreciate how thankful I am to you for doing this in her honour.
“I thank all the people of Edo State because I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to the achievements of my government.”
Obasanjo portrayed his late spouse as a woman of significant substance whose contributions were pivotal to the successes of his administration.
He declared that Stella was entitled to any recognition possible, whether during her lifetime or after her passing.
Continuing, the ex-president urged those holding political positions to focus on developing the skills and abilities of their people, emphasizing that a government’s success is inextricably linked to the development of its human resources.
He mentioned that ensuring food and nutrition security is critical to human capital development.
He pointed out that without adequate nutrition, people would not be able to fully benefit from the development of their infrastructure.
“Whatever we do in our responsibility as chief executives, either at the national level, at the state level or even at the local government level, one thing that is very, very important is human capital development.
“I will take three essentials of human capital development. First is food and nutrition security. You can’t do much on an empty stomach.
“The second, of course, is health, and food and nutrition security has something to do with that. Health is wealth, they say. A healthy people is a wealthy nation, because if you are dead, you can no longer be counted among those who are healthy.
“And, I dare to say that health is everything. You must have health to be able to be alive and do other things. And the third, of course, is education,” Obasanjo added.
Former President Obasanjo commended Governor Obaseki for his efforts in reconstructing and enhancing the hospital, which initially began as a mother-and-child hospital and has now been transformed into a specialist facility boasting cutting-edge technology.
In her address prior to the hospital’s inauguration, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, expressed her gratitude towards Governor Obaseki and the administration led by him for preserving the legacy of Stella Obasanjo through the reconstruction and modernization of the hospital. She emphasized that the hospital’s expansion would benefit not only the citizens of Edo State but also the nation at large.
Governor Obaseki highlighted that the decision to elevate the hospital to a world-class standard was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it served as an isolation center for patients. He mentioned that the hospital evolved into a critical 300-bed isolation facility, complemented by an additional 20-bed emergency isolation unit.
He further stated that the hospital is now furnished with state-of-the-art modern medical facilities capable of addressing a wide range of health issues.
The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stated that her office reached out to newly elected UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, but received no response.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that Nigeria would not compel Badenoch to embrace her Nigerian roots if she chooses otherwise.
“It depends on whether she embraces her Nigerian identity. We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response. We don’t force anyone to acknowledge being Nigerian,” Dabiri-Erewa explained.
The NiDCOM chief noted the commission’s openness to engaging with Nigerians abroad who actively choose to celebrate their heritage.
She cited the example of a former Miss Universe Nigeria who reconnected with her Nigerian roots after facing challenges in South Africa.
“She then identified with Nigeria, came to Nigeria, and we hosted her. If the Nigerian blood is in you, you’re always a Nigerian,” she added.
Badenoch, born in London in 1980, spent part of her childhood in Lagos and later in the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer.
Concluding her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa stressed that the choice to identify with Nigeria remains with Badenoch, affirming NiDCOM’s readiness to engage with anyone who identifies with Nigeria.
“We are open to working with anyone who sees themselves as Nigerian, but it’s not something we can force,” she concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, approved a minimum wage of ₦80,000 for the state workforce.
In a statement released by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, it was revealed that the Technical Committee set up by the state government had recommended and obtained approval from Makinde for the implementation of the new salary scale.
Oyelade said, “This new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee, which comprises both government and Labour top officials.”
Oyelade recalled that, only last month, a federal government agency, the National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest employment statistics published for 2024, rated the state as the most worker-friendly in the whole of Southern Nigeria due to a significant decline in the state’s unemployment rate, following the high-pitched employment of workers into various sectors of the state.
“The Oyo State Government has been paying workers’ salaries on the 25th of every month since Governor Makinde took office in 2019.
“The governor began paying the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage from the start of his tenure over four years ago, including consistent payments of pensions, gratuities, and a 13th-month salary for both workers and pensioners alike.
“Since November 2023, Governor Makinde has been paying ₦25,000 to workers and ₦15,000 to pensioners as a welfare wage award. The Makinde administration introduced the wage award to cushion the effects of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal and has remained consistent with these payments for over a year, even to this day.”
The commissioner reiterated that the governor has paid the backlog of gratuities from 2008 to 2015 for pensioners, with an increase in gratuity payments for those under both the Local Government Staff Pensions Board and those paid by the Ministry of Establishment and Training.
He added that the governor has also reinstated pensioners whose names were removed by the previous administration and continues to provide all pensioners with an annual Christmas/New Year chicken bonus.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), saw his fortune surge by around $13 billion just hours after his ally, Donald Trump, won the U.S. presidential election.
Investors were quick to predict that Trump’s victory could bring favorable conditions for Musk’s primary venture, Tesla (TSLA), causing shares to jump by 13% at Wednesday’s market open, according to CNN.
This market response significantly boosted the value of Musk’s 411 million Tesla shares by over $13 billion, yielding an astronomical return on the $119 million he has reportedly donated to Trump’s campaign efforts.
Musk has shown strong support for Trump throughout the election, donating heavily and even interviewing the former president on X. The Federal Election Commission notes that Musk has contributed close to $119 million through a
political action committee aimed at backing Trump, making him one of Trump’s most high- profile supporters in the tech sector.
While Musk has historically benefited from government support for his ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX, some speculate Trump’s stance on electric vehicles (EVs) could create a more challenging environment. Trump has
expressed skepticism about EVs, calling them costly and job threatening to the traditional auto industry. His pledge to repeal what he terms "Biden’s EV mandate," despite no formal
mandate existing, adds uncertainty.
Though Trump’s policies could impact federal incentives for EVs, analysts say Tesla might weather the changes, possibly even finding competitive advantage in a reduced-subsidy
market.
Kaduna Govt Gifts ₦100,000, Smartphones To Each 39 #EndBadGovernance Protesters - Reunites Them With Families
AFOLABI
Governor Uba Sani’s government of Kaduna State on Wednesday presented gifts to thirty-nine individuals, many of whom are minors who the Federal Government had previously detained following their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August.
Recall that the children recently received a ‘pardon’ from President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Reuniting the teenagers with their families today in a solemn ceremony held at the “Children’s Homes” situated along Katuru Road in Kaduna, each child was presented with a sum of ₦100,000 and a smartphone, a gift from the state government.
Governor Sani committed to supporting these children as they transition back into society, promising to offer rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives to foster their development into responsible and law-abiding community members.
Representing the governor, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu Meyere, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, disclosed that the governor had directed him to gather credentials from individuals who had successfully completed their tertiary education.
“The Governor promised that some of them will receive start-up capital for trading, others will receive skills training, and some will be offered employment,” Meyere said.
The government shall oversee the behaviour of every child, thereby extending these privileges per commendable conduct. Information pertaining to contact details, such as addresses, telephone numbers, and information regarding next of kin, was meticulously documented to facilitate tracking and subsequent follow-up.
Upon their release, each child was subjected to a comprehensive medical examination and was provided with psycho-social counselling, emphasizing personal growth and community contributions.
Additionally, religious leaders from both Islamic and Christian communities played a pivotal role in counselling the children, underscoring the significance of faith and the perils associated with negative influences.
Meyere explained that the children were provided with phones, as they had lost theirs during detention, and that “the Governor graciously granted each of them N100,000 as a measure of goodwill.”
Democratic candidate and Vice President, Kamala Harris has called President-elect Donald Trump, who contested the 2024 US election as the Republican candidate.
According to Associated Press, Harris called Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his election victory.
Recall Donald Trump was elected US 47th president, four years after he was voted out of power.
Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race in July due to age-related issues and a poor election debate.
Trump will be sworn in as president after an inauguration on Monday, 20 January 2025.
Meanwhile, the Russian government has stated that it has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his recent election victory in the United States, amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and U.S.-supported Ukraine.
The Kremlin, through President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, emphasized that the U.S. remains an “unfriendly” nation in Russia’s view.
Peskov highlighted the historically low level of U.S.-Russia relations, noting that it is difficult to imagine them deteriorating further.
According to Peskov, Moscow is observing developments and carefully analyzing statements from American politicians regarding Russia, signalling a cautious approach.
Russia’s response comes as global leaders have been extending their congratulations to Trump, who defeated Kamala Harris to secure a second non-consecutive term as U.S. President.
However, the Russian government cautioned its citizens to remember the U.S.’s “direct and indirect involvement in a war against our state,” underscoring the severe tensions between the two nations.
The Kremlin’s stance leaves open questions about how Trump’s return to office may impact the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a situation that remains unresolved.
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Bandits have reportedly killed 10 farmers, including women and a Chinese national from Wayam and Belu-Belu villages in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
Naija News learnt that six of the victims were beheaded, and the attackers went away with their heads, while many others who sustained bullet wounds were being treated at a clinic in Kagara, the Headquarters of Rafi LGA.
According to Daily Trust, many people were also kidnapped during the attack that happened around 5am on Tuesday when the victims were observing their early morning prayers.
A resident in the area, Bala Tukur, who spoke with the publication above, said the residents of Wayam, Belu-Belu, Madaka and adjoining communities had all fled to Kagara town, the Headquarters of Rafi LGA, since Tuesday morning.
He noted that said bandits had resumed aggressive attacks in the last week as farmers from Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Mariga and Kontagora LGAs of the state began to harvest their farm produce.
He said, “At Wayam village near Madaka under Kagara town, they mercilessly killed 10 people and injured many. The way they killed us now is very traumatic, I swear. Everybody has fled.
“Many people have not been able to harvest 50 percent of their crops, including maize that were ready for harvest and getting those crops harvested now would be hard.
“Recently, residents of Kukoki were asked to pay N1.5 million to be allowed to harvest their crops. They paid but bandits came back to attack them four days ago.”
The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has called on Nigerians to pray against potential famine in Nigeria.
He condemned the rising cost of fuel in the country, adding that the country is already facing hunger and if the situation is not addressed, it could lead to a famine crisis.
Mbaka shared his concern during the commissioning of a new filling station, Blessed Omemma Oil and Gas Limited, in Abakpa, Enugu East Local Government Area.
He urged the government to take immediate action to tackle the fuel price increase and emphasized the need for collective prayer to find a solution.
The cleric also advised Nigerians to invest rather than keeping their money in banks, pointing out that the money will continue to depreciate.
He said, “We need more prayers for Nigeria to be well, what we are facing now is hunger, but if we’re not careful, we could face famine.
“I encourage people to invest their money wisely; don’t leave it in the bank where it will keep devaluing.
He further remarked, “The government knows what they need to do about the fuel hike. One solution from them can overcome these toxic situations, and that’s why I emphasize the power of prayer.”
Police Arrest Chef And Security Guard For Allegedly Stealing And Selling Off Their Boss's Properties Worth N5.5m
AFOLABI
A 24-year-old chef, Olusola Folorunso and a security guard Rafiu Mutairu, 47, have been arrested by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from the Lagos State Police Command over the alleged theft of their boss’ property worth N5.5 million.
The suspects were arrested last Friday in the Badagry and Ishasi areas of Lagos, respectively.
According to the police, the two who were working for the same employer at a popular estate in Ojodu, Ikeja, had sometime in September 2024 allegedly carted away and sold off the property while their boss was on a foreign trip.
Police listed the stolen items to include 5 split air conditioners, a chest freezer, a pumping machine, a fridge and freezer, one inverter, and jewellery which were all valued at N5.5 million.
“Investigation revealed that while Folorunsho moved away the household items and personal effects from their boss’ residence, the security guard assisted in providing the buyers for the items. Investigations further revealed Folorunsho ran away to Badagry after committing the crime and all efforts to get him to assist in the recovery of those items proved futile,” the police said.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the RRS, CSP Shola Jejeloye has directed that the suspects be charged in court.
Equatorial Guinea Government Officials Who Appeared In Leaked S3xtapes With Baltasar Ebang Engonga Suspended
AFOLABI
The government of Equatorial Guinea has launched a thorough investigation into hundreds of leaked s3x tapes allegedly involving the country's financial crime chief, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, with various women, including wives of prominent officials in his office.
The government also announced that it was suspending officials involved in the scandal, according to a statement issued by the Equatorial Guinea Press and Information Office, published on the government’s website.
Vice-President Teodoro Mangue on Tuesday said any official found engaging in s3x acts at work would be sanctioned as this was a “flagrant violation of the code of conduct.”
The government said the recent decisions had been taken in the wake of the widely circulated videos which had “denigrated the image of the country.”
“Among the decisions taken are the suspension of employment of the officials who appear in the homemade adult videos circulating on the networks, severe measures for the members assigned to the surveillance of the inmates for not fulfilling their duties and allowing such acts, as well as the reinforcement of security in all judicial offices in the country; in addition to the installation of surveillance cameras in the judicial and ministerial offices,” the statement said.
“The Executive has made this decision in the wake of the sexual videos that have gone viral on social media in recent days, which have denigrated the image of the country.
“And in order to correct this bad behaviour of some officials of the public and judicial administration of Equatorial Guinea, the Vice President of the Republic, concerned about this situation, has urgently summoned the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Attorney General of the Republic, and several members of the government headed by the Prime Minister, to adopt strategies to stop this type of behaviour and thus propose preventive measures,” it added.
The Equatorial Guinea’s financial crime chief and head of the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), has since been arrested over the leaked s3x tapes.
The tapes, allegedly numbering over 300, depict Ebang in encounters with multiple women, some of whom are reported to be married, including the wife of the Presidential security head and his own brother’s spouse.
The videos, reportedly recorded in various locations including his office, hotels, and public spaces were found during a corruption probe.
Ebang, who is married and has six children, had initially been detained for allegations of corruption, but the investigation uncovered these recordings on his personal devices, which were subsequently leaked online.