Bilie-By-Nze's defense challenges judicial process ahead of Oligui Nguema's visit to France

On July 15, 2026, in Libreville, Nguia stated that the legal proceedings against Bilie-By-Nze, who is also the president of the opposition party Ensemble pour le Gabon EPG, are marred by serious irregularities. The defense claims that the alleged offenses are prescribed by more than fifteen years and lack the characteristics of a criminal offense. They also argue that the removal of the investigating judge, while appeals against the detention order and refusal of provisional release were pending, undermines the rights of the defense.

Me Nguia highlighted that the magistrate's assertion of not possessing the original or a copy of the case file hinders effective legal recourse and paralyzes the judicial inquiry, especially with the case before the Court of Cassation. The defense views the case as politically motivated, suggesting that Bilie-By-Nze's public stances on national issues led to his arrest by hooded agents of the Direction générale des recherches DGR without prior summons. Ahead of President Oligui Nguema's official visit to France, the defense emphasized the importance of the rule of law, appealing to Gabonese authorities and judicial actors to ensure strict adherence to the Constitution, the Human Rights Charter, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

They stressed that e