The case revealed by “Libé” brings to light the workings of what could be a circuit of embezzlement of Congolese black gold revenues. In question: a company, suspected of being a “screen”, and its boss in contact with French personalities.
The organized disappearance of Congolese oil money
The 2012 arrest in Paris of businessman Lucien Ebata in possession of a huge amount of cash led French customs officials on the trail of Orion Oil: this company is suspected of being at the heart of a vast system of embezzlement of public funds for the benefit of the clan of the Congolese president, Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The investigators, attached to Bercy, are wondering about the“concrete usefulness” of Orion Oil, which acts as a broker on the oil market between producers and distributors. Several hundred million euros would have evaporated.
This company had for a decade an almost unique supplier and customer: the National Congolese Petroleum Company (SNPC). Orion Oil resells part of SNPC’s oil production to large operating energy majors such as Shell. Incidentally, it pockets a margin of between 0.77% and 8.62%. But for what operational added value? For the investigators, it is as if the activities of one and the other were merged. Read our survey in full
Orion Oil is suspected of being a sort of slush fund from which officials draw at will, even for current expenses – driver payments, visas of a few hundred euros…
Lucien Ebata, the meteoric rise of “the president’s man”
The wealthy president of Orion Oil, created in 2008, has established himself as a figure in the African economy. Starting from nothing, he rose through the ranks to become a diplomatic emissary of the Congolese regime. This close adviser to Sassou-Nguesso was indicted in 2021 in Paris, in particular for money laundering. Read his profile
Alligator shoes, palaces and grand crus… Lucien Ebata, now 53, spent lavishly, especially in France. Generally in cash, and without forgetting to pamper relatives and dignitaries of the Sassou-Nguesso regime. Read the story
Manuel Valls, the surprise guest of the Orion Oil affair
Was it possible that such a cavalcade of Congolese gifts, paid in cash, unfolds in Paris without French economic and political personalities being involved? In a second part, Release reveals that the French Prime Minister in office in 2016, Manuel Valls, is a surprise guest on the file. Investigators suspect relatives of the former prime minister of having approached Lucien Ebata for covert financing of his nascent 2017 presidential campaign. As the politician prepared for what he thought was a decisive political fight, the primary of the Socialist Party which was played between him and Benoît Hamon, it arises in the telephone conversations of Lucien Ebata, put on listening: “He’s young. Even if he lost, there would be a friendly relationship between the two of us, he would be a new friend for me.” then considers the boss of Orion Oil. Read the survey
DSK, Lewandowski: other personalities in history
The good advice of former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been generously rewarded: Lucien Ebata joined the services of the former French minister in 2018 in the context of negotiations between the IMF and the African country, who wanted to take out a loan from the financial institution. A contract of 800,000 euros aroused the suspicions of Bercy investigators. Read the article.
Another state figure appears in the investigation. This is Cédric Lewandowski, vice-president of EDF. Before his meetings with the director of cabinet of Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lucien Ebata was targeted by two S files since 2013 and 2014, deleted in 2016. According to wiretaps, the powerful adviser would have intervened.
