Pascaline Bongo, the sister of Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo, will reportedly face trial in France in January 2024, on suspicion of corruption.

She is accused of facilitating public contracts in Gabon between 2010 and 2011 for the French construction firm Egis Route, for a promised reward of 8m euro ($8.4m; £6.9m).

Pascaline Bongo who served her late father, Omar Bongo, as chief of staff denies the allegations.

She “was never in contact with anyone, no contract was signed and none of the evidence points to a transfer of money”, Corinne Dreyfus-Schmidt, Ms Bongo's lawyer, told the AFP news agency.

Egis Route told AFP: “We will be contesting the corruption allegations as firmly as possible.”

While the legal issue targets Pascaline Bongo and Egis Route, it will also involve at least five other people.

In Gabon itself, Ali Bongo's wife, Sylvia, has been charged with money laundering, receiving stolen property, forgery, and the use of forgery.

Her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin was also charged with corruption, embezzlement and placed in pre-trial detention.