Former Speaker of the Gabonese parliament, Guy Nzouba-Ndama, , has been under house arrest for the past week.
This comes after he was cited in a viral video trying to enter the neighboring Republic of Congo.
He was seen in the video carrying a luggage containing the CFA equivalent of $2 million (£1.8 million) went viral.
Mr. Nzouba-Ndama, who may run as the opposition in the forthcoming presidential elections, is now being held on two accusations.
One, with violations of import controls and two, cooperation with a foreign power.
Meanwhile The BBC Africa LIVE page is reporting that his party, The Democrats, say the accusations are politically motivated.
The media also has it that the 76-year-old served as speaker of the National Assembly for 19 years and was a devoted supporter of the late president Omar Bongo, father of the current president Ali Bongo Ondimba.