justice for few

Angola: Judicial system lifts the lid on corruption catastrophe

By Cláudio Silva

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Posted on April 4, 2023 14:26

© A general view of the Supreme Court in Luanda. (Photo by Osvaldo Silva / AFP) — A general view of the Supreme Court in Luanda. (Photo by Osvaldo Silva / AFP)

After years of neglect, the Angolan judicial system is facing its biggest institutional crisis in history. The head of the Audit Court, Exalgina Gambôa, was recently pressured by President João Lourenço to vacate her post after being accused of extortion by several ministers.

Supreme Court President Joel Leonardo is also under immense pressure to resign after being accused of several grave acts of corruption, nepotism and extortion; he is currently under investigation by Hélder Fernando Pitta Gróz, the Procuradoria Geral da República (the attorney general of the Republic) following a request by his own colleagues.

Pitta Gróz refuses to resign even after his term expired in December 2022.

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