‘The Original Bad Boy Is Back’: Social Media Says Baltasar Engonga Is Free — But Officials Have Not Said a Word

‘The Original Bad Boy Is Back’: Social Media Says Baltasar Engonga Is Free — But Officials Have Not Said a Word.

A fresh wave of chatter is making the rounds online. According to several social media users, Baltasar Ebang Engonga — the former Director-General of Finance for Equatorial Guinea — has been released from prison.

The only problem? Nobody in charge has confirmed it.

As of this writing, no official statement has come from the government, the courts, or prison authorities. That has not stopped the internet from running with the story.

What People Are Saying Online

Posts started appearing a few days ago. One user wrote:

“Balthazar Finally Released!!! After spending 2 YEARS in Guinea Prison… He’s Back in town again!!! Double Wahala For Married Men Loading!!! Husbands, hold your wives o! The original bad boy is back in town. Do you think Balthazar will change for better this time? Or na same old Balthazar?”

That message was shared hundreds of times. Comments poured in. Some people laughed. Others warned their friends. A few asked for proof. But the post did not include any official document, court order, or statement from the Equatorial Guinean government.

Still, the rumor spread.

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A Quick Reminder of Who Engonga Is

For those who may have forgotten, Baltasar Ebang Engonga once held a powerful position. He served as the Director-General of the country’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF). His job was to look into financial wrongdoing.

Then came the scandal. Hundreds of videos surfaced showing him with different women — including married women, his cousins, and wives of his friends. While investigators looked into those videos, they uncovered something else. Engonga had also been involved in embezzling public funds.

In July and August 2025, a provincial court in Bioko handed down its decision. He received an extended prison term totaling 18 years across multiple charges. He was also fined the equivalent of over 1.5 million US dollars and barred from holding public office.

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Where Things Stand Now

Two years have passed since that sentence. Some social media users now believe that Engonga has served enough time and been let out early. But early release in a case like this would usually require a court order or an official announcement.

Neither has appeared.

Local news outlets in Equatorial Guinea have not reported on any release. Prison officials have not issued a statement. Government spokespersons have not addressed the rumors. The silence from official channels is loud.

Why the Rumors Are Spreading So Fast

Engonga’s case was never ordinary. The mix of sex scandal and financial crime made him a household name across Africa. People remember him. And whenever a familiar name pops back up online, it tends to travel quickly.

Add to that the way social media works. A post with strong language — “the original bad boy is back” — gets shares. Jokes about married men locking up their wives get reactions. Before anyone checks the facts, the rumor has already reached thousands.

So What Is the Truth?

Right now, no one outside the Equatorial Guinean prison system knows for sure. Engonga may still be inside. He may have been moved. Or he may actually have been released without any public notice.

Until an official statement comes out, the only honest answer is this: social media claims are just claims.

People can choose to believe them or wait for real confirmation. But for the moment, husbands holding their wives might be acting on a story that has not been proven.

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If Engonga truly has been released, an official announcement will likely follow in the coming days. If nothing comes, then the rumors will die down on their own.

Until then, treat the news with caution. The internet has a way of bringing old names back into the light — whether they belong there or not.

‘The Original Bad Boy Is Back’: Social Media Says Baltasar Engonga Is Free — But Officials Have Not Said a Word.