SCNC ‘leaders’ divided over October 1 celebration

From Michael Ndi in Bamenda
 

Barely two days to October 1, the day Anglophone extremists consider historic because to them it is their Independence Day, leaders of the movement that champions secession are divided over celebrations to mark the day.

The leader of one of the factions of the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, Thomas Nwancham stirred the honest nest when he issued a controversial statement announcing that activities to mark the 54th anniversary celebration of the Independence of the Southern Cameroons initially planned to hold on October 1, 2014 have been postponed. Nwancham in the statement that is already receiving cat calls from various SCNC interest groups, had stated that: “this decision was taken in aftermath of the death of Chief Ayamba. And it is necessary to permit SCNC carryout an internal-reorganization, which should consolidate and strengthen the mother movement, by reducing its existing number of wings”.

The release further outlines that: “..may our emphasis on the only one date of 1st October be understood to reaffirm this date and one other, as the indelible mark of Southern Cameroons 1961 independence. To this effect, we appreciate its recent recognition by the government of La Republic du Cameroun as President Biya courageously transferred his purported reunification jubilee to February 20, 2014...’’

The release further urges the international community to arm-twist the Yaounde authorities to exhibit even greater understanding towards 1st October 2015, so that “we would celebrate the event without the habitual disruptions, arrests, detentions, and torture”.

In a sharp response to Nwancham’s statement, another SCNC faction chairman, Nfor Ngalla Nfor has questioned whether it is reasonable to postpone a national day celebration. Hear him: “Was Nwancham first of all working with Chief Ayamba?”, he questioned. Nfor Nfor went further to stress that when people have nothing doing they always look for issues to hang on. “It doesn’t surprise me. When we were arrested and detained in 2010 and 2012 in Buea where was Nwancham?”

Falling short of saying he suspects government’s hidden hand in Nwancham’s statement calling off this year’s celebrations to mark Southern Cameroons’ independence, Nfor Nfor has declared that come rain come shine, celebrations would hold throughout the North West and South West regions on Wednesday October 1, 2014. Hear him: “Celebrations will hold throughout Southern Cameroons come Wednesday. Just wait and see what will happen...In fact, we are going to commemorate our confiscated independence.” 

BEAC /SGBC embezzlement case:

Abah Abah acquitted!
 
By Sylvanus Ezieh Acha’ana in Yaounde

Abah Abah

The former minister of economy and finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah who was standing trial for the embezzlement of 1.1BFCFA has been acquitted by the Special Criminal Court, SCC. Abah Abah was standing trial alongside three others.
Following the verdict which was delivered last Friday evening, one of the accused persons, Barrister Lydienne Eyoum was slammed a 25-year jail term and her property seized for embezzling the sum of 1.7BFCFA. Another accused, Gwen Olivier Honoré who is currently on the run was handed a life imprisonment term, including the seizure of her property while Baleng Célestin, a sheriff bailiff was acquitted. The former minister delegate in charge of the budget, Henri Engoulou, who was also a co-accused unfortunately died earlier this year.
Even though acquitted in last Friday’s verdict, Abah Abah will remain in prison, pending judgment of two other embezzlement cases which are currently being heard by the same court. It should also be recalled that the former finance boss is currently serving a six-year jail term slammed him by the Ekounou magistrate court in 2012 for attempting to escape from jail.
The court case against Abah Abah dates back to 2008 when he was arrested. Since 2008, Abah Abah was never given the opportunity to present his own side of the matter until May 26, 2014. His appearance in court was to justify a decision he took in 2004, authorizing a certain Lydienne Eyoum, an advocate who was fronting for the state to recover 2.155 BFCFA from the Bank of Central African States, BEAC.
Eyoum was advocating on behalf of the state of Cameroon in a matter pitting the latter and the Société Général des Banques au Cameroun, SGBC. At the end of the trial which verdict was passed in favour of the state, Eyoum, of a French national then confronted Abah Abah who was representing the state for her advocating dues.
But Abah Abah would in turn ask Eyoum to hold on until BEAC deposits the claimed amount into state coffers; authorising him to ensure the payment of the money by BEAC. Eyoum then contacted BEAC, soliciting the bank to pay the money in his account. In response, BEAC assured Eyoum that everything was in order and that the money would be deposited into his account.
It was on the bases of the above that the legal department accused Abah Abah of applying fraudulent manoeuvres to assist Eyoum in the embezzlement of the amount claimed. He was also accused of opposing the instructions of the president of the republic who later asked that the said amount be returned to SGBC.
But the former finance minister had on that May 26 refuted all the accusations of the prosecution. He explained that he was appointed finance minister on December 8, 2004 at the moment when the state treasury was undergoing acute financial crisis. On his arrival, he met a court case pitting the ministry of finance and SGBC. SGBC, going by him was contesting the imminent seizure of its account at BEAC worth 2.155BFCFA. The court decided in favour of the ministry of finance by ordering BEAC to deposit the money in state coffers, which according to him was good news for the new ministry of finance and economy which was faced with the duty to pay civil servants at the end of the month.
To ensure a rapid payment of the money, the head of the legal unit at the ministry of finance, quoting sections of the OHADA uniform act addressed a note to the minister, cautioning him to authorize Barrister Eyoum to disburse the money from BEAC.
It was on the recommendation of the service head of the legal affairs unit that the new minister gave the authorization to Eyoum to recover from BEAC the money on the behalf of the state of Cameroon.
Following the unfolding of the events, BEAC later deposited just half of the total sum of the money in state coffers. In effect, on December 23, 2004, the then minister delegate at the ministry of the economy and finance in charge of the budget, Henri Engoulou sent a fax to Eyoum, asking her to retain the other half of the money in his private account until the nature of the settlement of his dues by the ministry of finance is clarified.
Abah Abah had told the court that he was only informed that a fax was sent to Eyoum four years later, during which time Henri Engoulou was already on pre-trial detention at the Yaounde central prison.

Biya empowers FECAFOOT

According to a presidential decree signed last Friday, the FA now has more powers to independently manage football matters without any interference by the sports ministry.
 
By Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde

Paul Biya

The head of state, Paul Biya has signed a presidential decree empowering the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT as well as set modalities for the payment of match bonuses.
Article IV of last Friday’s decree stipulates that the administrative, sportive and technical coordination of activities as well as the selection programme for national football players will be handled by a general coordinator who shall be appointed by the president of FECAFOOT. The president of the national football association will equally appoint two deputies to assist the general coordinator.
The recent decision by the head of state to reorganise the national football teams, it is expected, will lay to rest type of cacophony that reigned within the Indomitable Lion’s den prior to the World Cup outing in Brazil.
Unlike decree No.72 of October 3, 1972 that was signed 42 years ago organising only the national team, the latest presidential decrees touches both the Cadet and Senior Lions; male and female selections inclusive.
Going by the article that addresses the organisation and management of the national football squad, the text states that the competence has been handed over to FECAFOOT which shall be responsible for the administrative, sportive and technical selection process.
Also, the presidential text indicates that the financial burden of the national team selection process will be borne by the state and FECAFOOT, though the various quotas will be decided by a separate text.
The above decision will bury the hatchet that existed between the ministry of sport and FECAFOOT as regards control of the national team.
Another section of the decree focuses on the calling and selection of players, plus the publication of lists. Henceforth, players who will be selected into the national team will have to conform to the statutes, code, regulations, decisions and directives of FECAFOOT, CAF and FIFA.
In another sphere, the issue of match bonuses that has always been at the root of problems between players and officials has been addressed. In the future, match bonus for official and friendly games as well as qualification matches for international competitions will be handled by a decision of the FECAFOOT president in consultation with the minister of sports and physical education.
The payment of match bonuses to players and related officials will be ensured by FECAFOOT, following modalities to be enshrined in a particular text.
Again, financial resources destined for the payment of subventions will be provided to FECAFOOT by the state in the form of subvention and modalities will be laid down by a separate text.
All associations or sports organisations affiliated to FECAFOOT that embark on official international competitions could also benefit from the new text relating to bonuses, the decree added.
Following Friday’s presidential decree which came barely a day after another creating the National Football Academy (ANAFOOT), football analysts have opined that the head of state in now putting in place the recommendations made by the Yang commission.

Four die at CRTV Logbessou transmission centre

From Ashu Tidings in Douala
 
Four technicians have lost their lives at the Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation, CRTV Logbessou transmission centre in Douala when an industrial accident occurred at the site on Friday September 26.
Also, the Littoral and South West regions have been deprived of radio and television signals from the national station as well as other sister channels that were making use of the transmission pylon which collapsed.
According to an inhabitant of Logbessou who witnessed the tragedy, Armand Manga, five technicians were working on one of the heavy metal pillars when apparently one of the security rope got cut, thereby destabilising equilibrium on the pylon. The heavy metals then collapsed, killing four on the spot and seriously injuring the surviving technician.
The deceased technicians, we gathered from security officials, were: Bouma Njeck Alain, Epoh Hubert, Njoh François and Massock P.
CRTV officials in Douala told reporters that the technical team had successful replaced one of the heavy metal pillars of the pylon the previous Thursday. The technicians only met their Golgotha during the second phase of maintenance work at the transmission centre.
The transmission centre was responsible for the diffusion of CRTV radio and TV signals, BBC and RFI, telecommunication experts noted.
Following Friday’s tragedy, the minister of communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and the general manager of CRTV, Amadou Vamoulke, on the instructions of the prime minister, came down to Douala on Saturday to have an appraisal of the damage.
While in Douala, they extended government’s condolence to the bereaved families and promised that the transmission centre will be reinstated within the shortest time possible to enable the audience in the affected area to have signals once more.
During a crises meeting, stakeholders proposed that pylons in transmission centres across the national territory should be regularly checked and replaced if need be, to avoid a repeat of the Logbessou scenario.
Last Friday’s tragedy appears to be the first to have befell a technical team on CRTV site since the state corporation was created.

Stakeholders fine-tune strategies to fight child kidnapping

From Peter Adi Fonte in Kumbo

Security stakeholders in Kumbo have brainstormed on better measures to circumvent the frequent cases of child kidnapping in the locality.

The recent meeting which grouped together heads of security forces, traditional rulers, political leaders, religious authorities and some parents of kidnapped victims was summoned by the divisional officer for Kumbo central sub-division, Nkamto Ndifon Francis.

After brainstorming on the security concerns, the conclave adopted various resolutions aimed at forestalling future kidnap of more children.

Among the resolves was the need for children to be warned against receiving gifts from unknown persons as well as free rides in unidentifiable private cars, taxis and motor cycles.

Parents were also told to desist from allowing young ones to stay out after 7pm, except when in the company of elderly persons.

In addition, another resolution insists that parents should endeavour to take their children to and from school at stipulated times.

The conclave called on children to move in a group while on foot and for pupils and students to shun drinking spots.

Traditional rulers, for their part, were requested to put in place vigilante groups and to register such groups with the local administration. They were further requested to sort out abandoned buildings and areas which harbour criminals and report to the forces of law and order once identified.

While forces of law and order confirmed their willingness to embark on patrols during the day and at the night, landlords were urged to identify various tenants in their houses by occupations.

Shortly before the close of the meeting, the divisional officer for Kumbo central sub-division, Nkamto Ndifon Francis expressed gratitude to all the participants for the positive contributions made and called on the population to collaborate with the forces of law and order so as to stamp out child kidnapping.

Mean time, Maurice Viban whose child was kidnapped in the field of Government School Bamkika’ai narrated the sad incident. He said his child was kidnapped by three persons and the kidnappers got in contact with him through a phone call, asking for a ransom of 5MFCFA.

Maurice Viban noted that in panic, he abandoned the gendarmes who had opted to accompany him get the kidnapped child.

He negotiated with the kidnappers through phone contact and paid a sum of 300000 FCFA to the kidnappers in a spot they had directed him to put the money before his son was released.