Joe Dinga Pefok
14 January 2008
It looks like just another spat between the government and devious corrupt government officials. But it is becoming more complicated than that.
In its war on corruption and embezzlement, which sent some important people to the gaol last year, the Vice Prime Minister in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, has short-listed some 60 top government officials for possible investigation, arrest, trial and eventual imprisonment, if found guilty of corruption or embezzlement of state funds.
This information is contained in a 16-page confidential document which was prepared late last year ordering a secret investigation into the financial situation of over 60 Cameroonian high-ranking government officials suspected of having embezzled money and stashed it in foreign banks.
This development seems to bring to reality the Justice Minister's declaration last year that he had dozens of files of persons who were under investigation.According to information gleaned from a copy of the document, which The Post procured, Amadou Ali, on September 16, 2007, signed two mission letters for one Dooh Collins Francis, said to be an expert economic crime investigator, to travel abroad and carry out the investigations.
Dooh was expected to travel to countries like US, Britain and Canada, Asia, the Middle East, South Africa and a number of other European and African countries.In one of the mission letters, the Justice Minister appealed particularly to the chancelleries of the US, Britain and Canada, to assist Dooh in his mission.
Anyhow, it is not clear whether Dooh accomplished his mission. Nonetheless, the list is titled: 'The File of Economic Criminals Suspected' followed by an appendage: 'The persons hereunder are suspected of alleged extortion, corruption and money laundering from the Government of Cameroon'.
The first part of the list contains the names of 64 suspects and those considered their accomplices. The second part of the list contains the names of some close family members like the wives and children of some of the main suspects, who are thought to be linked to the misdeeds.
These are the names on the list: Polycarpe Abah Abah (then Minister of Economy and Finance) Paul Ngamo Hamani, (Provisional Administrator of CAMAIR) Peter Akumchi Awa (former Director of Treasury) Justin Njomachoua (then Secretary General in the Ministry of Economy and Finance) Pierre Titi (then Director of Budget in the Ministry of Economy and Finance)
Celestin Pascal Tawamba (Customs Inspector, General Manager of CAMPOST) Anatole Nkono Ze (President of Privatisation Commission) Blaise Eugéne Nsom (Director of Treasury) Paul Tasong Njukang (Senior Tax Inspector, Ministry of Finance) Akame Mfoumou (former Minister of Finance) Alphone Siyam Siwe (former General Manager of Port Authority of Douala now jailed) Emmanuel Ondo Ndong (former General Manager of FEICOM, now jailed)
Gervais Mendo Ze (former General Manager of CRTV) Elizabeth Mongori (former senior official at CRTV) Patricia Daisy Melone née Enam (former Financial Director at CRTV).
Others include: Remy Ze Meka (Defence Minister) Pierre Desire Engo (former General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund) Edouard Etonde Ekoto (former Board Chairman of PAD now jailed) Jean Marie Atangana Mebara (former Secretary General at the Presidency) Yves Michel Fotso (former General Manager of CAMAIR) Marafa Hamidou Yaya (former Secretary General at the Presidency/Minister of Territorial Administration)
Marcel Niat Njifenji (former General Manager of SONEL) Charles Metouck (General Manger of SONARA) Paul Kammogne Fokam (General Manager of Afriland First Bank), Adolphe Emmanuel Etoundi Owono (former General Manager of SRC/General Manager of PAD) Ibrahim Talba Malam (General Manager of Petroleum Stabilization Fund, CSPH) Martin Aristide Leopold Okouda (former Minister of Public Works) Michel Thiery Atangana Abega (former senior official at Ministry of Finance) Michel Meva'a M'Eboutou (former Minister of Finance).
Others still: Urbain Olanguena Owono (then Minister of Public Health) Mohamed Iya (General Manager of SODECOTON/President of FECAFOOT) Joseph Edou (former General Manager of Credit Foncier) Gilles Roger Belinga (former General Manager of SIC now jailed) Louis Paul Motaze (then General Manager of National Social Insurance Fund now the Minister of Economy) Roger Melingui (former Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget at the Ministry of Finance)
Edgard Alain Abraham Mebe Ngo'o (former Director of Civil Cabinet/Delegate General for National Security) Mouchipou Seydou (former Minister of Post and Telecommunication) Perrial Jean Nyodog (General Manager of TRADEX) Laurent Esso (Secretary General at the Presidency). Djibril Caveye Yegue (President of the National Assembly) Esther Dang Belibi (former General Manager of SNI) Jean Baptiste Bokam (former General Manger of BICEC and former Minister of Public Works).
For all the dust that this list might raise, observers think that Amadou Ali or those who compiled the list inadvertently left out some suspicious names like Adolphe Moudiki, the long serving General Manager of SNH, Nguini Effa, the General Manager of the National Petroleum Distribution Company, SCDP.
It would be recalled as we reported last year that the Douala Judicial Police questioned the SCDP boss over alleged financial impropriety.
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This is fast justice. What did these guys steal? Some bags of weed or a few Burgers? This is different from Nigeria where the Attorney General is a friend and defender of the thieves and a majority of the suspects are free meanwhile.