By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Britain authorities have imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze on Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, whose father Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years until 2017.
The British government on Thursday said the action is under its global anti-corruption sanctions regime.
Dos Santos who has faced corruption accusations in Angola and elsewhere for years denies the allegations, saying she is the target of a long-running political vendetta.
The British government alleged that the Africa’s first female billionaire misappropriated more than 50 million pounds ($63.19 million) for her own financial benefit while she ran Angolan state oil firm Sonangol.
It also said she misappropriated more than 300 million pounds while she was director of telecoms company Unitel.
Dos Santos lost an appeal to overturn an order freezing up to 580 million pounds of her assets in September as part a lawsuit at London’s High Court brought by Unitel.
Global police agency Interpol confirmed in 2022 it had issued a red notice for dos Santos, who says she lives in Dubai.
The British government has added seven other designations targeting other individuals under the same global anti-corruption case.
Her father who ruled Africa’s second-biggest oil producer for nearly four decades with iron fist died in August this year.
According to reports, his son, Filomeno has also been in prison since 2019, also for corruption.
