Equatorial Guinea's former CJ pleads for help

Equatorial Guinea's former Chief Justice has appealed to the US and UN for help after President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo ordered security forces to hunt him down. Juan Angue told Voice of America that he was being persecuted for fighting for judicial independence and the separation of powers. A report on the IoL site notes that Angue has been accused of taking part in an alleged coup attempt in 2017. The Equatorial Guinea Government claims ambassadors from France, Spain, and the US prevented gendarmes from arresting Angue when police arrived at his home last week. Angue said there was no chance of him having a fair trial in Equatorial Guinea. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Teodorin Obiang – Mbasogo’s son – was last week handed a €30m fine on top of a suspended jail term for embezzling public funds. Lawyers for the country’s Vice-President have lodged an appeal with the International Court of Justice to claim the Paris property should be offered the same protections as other diplomatic buildings.