An engine control apparatus provided in an engine provided with a valve drive device capable of independently setting a phase of one intake valve and a phase of another intake valve of plural intake valves (2A, 2B) mounted for a combustion chamber, characterized by comprising a controller performing a first control or a second control in which the controller controls the valve drive device based on a magnitude of engine brake required to the engine to vary at least one of the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, wherein: in the first control, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than a first predetermined value (α), the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, and when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, the controller retards the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than the first predetermined value, and in the second control, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than the first predetermined value, the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is becoming smaller than the first predetermined value, the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve preferentially to the phase of the another intake valve, and when there is a phase difference between the one intake valve and the another intake valve, the one intake valve operates after the another intake valve operates. in the first control, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than a first predetermined value (α), the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, and when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, the controller retards the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than the first predetermined value, and in the second control, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is smaller than the first predetermined value, the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve and the phase of the another intake valve, as compared with when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is larger than the first predetermined value, when the magnitude of the engine brake required to the engine is becoming smaller than the first predetermined value, the controller advances the phase of the one intake valve preferentially to the phase of the another intake valve, and when there is a phase difference between the one intake valve and the another intake valve, the one intake valve operates after the another intake valve operates.