At the request of the company’s lawyer, the Labor Court of Bobigny (Tribunal des Prud’hommes) declared itself not competent to hear the case under emergency procedure (référé).
This decision does not constitute a defeat, but rather a procedural step in a broader judicial process: the main trial on the merits remains scheduled for April 1, 2026, and other legal avenues remain open.
The claimant, Raimundo Ela Nsang, founder of the MILIGE Movement, appeared without legal counsel after the unexpected withdrawal of his lawyer seven days before the hearing, citing strategic differences.
Since his return from exile, Raimundo Ela Nsang has consulted five lawyers, three of whom initially accepted the case before the last two also withdrew, without clear explanation — demonstrating the complexity of this case, even in countries that proclaim the rule of law.
During the preparation of the trial, a crucial fact emerged:
the subsidiary Nalco Champion EG LLC, legalized in Equatorial Guinea after his hiring, was not the same entity as the one named in the contract signed in France, which was under Ondeo Nalco EG LLC.
This means that Raimundo Ela Nsang worked for three years as an engineer for an entity that had no legal existence in Equatorial Guinea.
In practice, he was used by Nalco to secure a second contract with ExxonMobil, before the legal registration of the subsidiary was carried out with the involvement of powerful figures within the regime, notably Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima.
From that point on, the employment of national engineers was no longer a priority: the company could replace qualified national staff with less experienced personnel, protected by political connections.
The company’s lawyer, in addition to requesting the court’s declaration of incompetence, denied the existence of any employment relationship, claiming there was no evidence that the contract was signed in France.
However, the documentary evidence already submitted — contracts, emails, attendance sheets, and witness statements — clearly confirm his effective role as a Nalco engineer in Equatorial Guinea, as well as the company’s direct involvement in forgery, exploitation, and discrimination practices.
Legal Actions Initiated by Raimundo Ela Nsang
Raimundo Ela Nsang has initiated three distinct legal proceedings in France:
- Before the Labor Court of Bobigny, with a summary hearing (référé) already held, and a main trial on the merits scheduled for April 1, 2026;
- A criminal complaint against Nalco/ChampionX and its representatives, for forgery, labor exploitation, discrimination, and complicity with an authoritarian regime, filed with the Public Prosecutor of Bobigny, who has not yet ordered an investigation;
- A commercial lawsuit before the Commercial Court, in which he seeks recognition as a natural partner of the company, due to his direct contribution to the creation of the subsidiary Nalco Champion EG LLC in Equatorial Guinea.
These complementary proceedings are part of a comprehensive legal strategy aimed at establishing the truth, obtaining justice, and exposing the corporate impunity system that affects many African professionals in multinational operations.
About the Open Letter to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
On May 7, 2024, Raimundo Ela Nsang addressed an open letter to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, copied to his government, calling for the official opening in Equatorial Guinea of an investigation into Nalco/ChampionX and the violations suffered.
To date, no response has been received.
This lack of response confirms that the State remains subservient to private and foreign interests, abandoning its qualified citizens and perpetuating the impunity of international corporations.
Documentary Evidence of the Employment Relationship
MILIGE attaches to this communiqué a signed attendance sheet, attesting to Raimundo Ela Nsang’s professional activity as a Nalco engineer, under contract in Equatorial Guinea, on ExxonMobil’s offshore platforms (Serpentina, Zafiro, and Jade) and at the Malabo offices (Abayak).
This document provides indisputable proof of his physical presence, duties, and technical responsibilities, having worked at times under extreme weather conditions and carried out countless helicopter transfers.
Despite three years of exemplary service, his simple request for final settlement led to reprisals, imprisonment, and forced exile.
Today, the company not only erases his professional record, but denies that he ever worked for them, thereby attempting to erase his contribution and professional existence.
🔷 Conclusion
The MILIGE Movement considers this case a symbol of African resistance against corporate impunity and an urgent call for international justice.
Raimundo Ela Nsang’s struggle is that of all Africans who demand respect, justice, and sovereignty.
MILIGE reaffirms its determination to pursue all legal and political avenues until the violated rights are recognized, justice is delivered, and the collusion between multinational corporations and authoritarian regimes in Africa comes to an end.
Paris, November 10, 2025
MILIGE – Department of Communication
