Teodorin
Nguema Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo,the latter Yahya Jammeh’s host, has been accused of ‘‘shamelessly looting
his government and shook down businesses in his country to support his lavish
lifestyle.’’
The repeated allegation resurfaced when
Teodorin finally decided to appeal the seizure of his multi-million dollar
assets and other belongings hidden across Europe.
Considered as one of the richest and most
flamboyant men in the continent, Teodorin, nick named ‘‘play boy’’ was found
liable for ‘‘fraudulently acquiring his wealth’’.
Right
groups and other campaigners said that while his people are still living in
‘‘poverty and malnutrition,’’ he engaged in ‘‘incredible extravagant.’’
The president’s son who is also the vice
president (VP), was accused of not only ‘‘persistent human right violations’’
but also ‘‘looting the government’s coffers with impunity.’’
Following
series of investigations, most of his cars in France as well as his extravagant
Paris home were seized.
It is alleged that the wealth of his country
from both the oil and timber industry is reportedly controlled by his father
and himself along with a small group of people.
French prosecutors who were adamant in his
prosecution revealed his collections of sports cars ranging from Bentley and
Rolls Royce. He also purchased Michael Jackson’s memorabilia worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars and was filmed ‘‘bragging’’ with different kinds of
expensive cars such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.
According to investigators, the VP was
secretly seen purchasing ‘‘30 suits at once’’ from one of Europe’s most
expensive tailors with a watch costing 22,000 Euros.
This
correspondent was informed that in a matter of hours, his properties in
Switzerland were sold in an auction. The most expensive Lamborghini Veneno
Roadster was recorded in that auction.
Europe
is not alone in recovering the ‘‘stolen assets’’. The United States authorities
following a Senate investigation, accused the VP of ‘‘stealing or smuggling’’
100 million dollars from his country.
Even though he vowed to recover his wealth,
the Justice Department blamed him for amassing his treasure via ‘‘bribes and
kickbacks’’. Consequently, the VP was forced to surrender his holiday home in
Malibu worth 30 million dollars to U.S. authorities.
The Point earlier reported his conviction in
absentia in France on money-laundering charges. His 100-room house was also
confiscated.
Interestingly, even though some Gambian
politicians are campaigning for Yayha Jammeh’s return for unknown reasons,
prominent politicians and lawyers in his host country are constantly demanding
his prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Recently, a High Court in South Africa,
dismissed the VP’s appeal with cost regarding another case in connection with
the ‘‘attachment’’ of his property and a bungalow in an affluent suburb.
An
order in favour of the plaintiff, Janse van Rensburg, who is claiming millions
of dollars against the VP for ‘’wrongful detention’’ in Equatorial Guinea was
granted.
The VP had allegedly ordered the arrest and
detention of the plaintiff who was jailed in Black Beach Prison, a notorious
jail in Equatorial Guinea in September 2013 for 423 days.
Despite the evidence, the VP denies all
allegations against him and vowed to continue his appeal, thus spending more
cash in his defence.
