The dust Hon. Paul Ayah Abine, MP for Akwaya Constituency, raised that his signature was forged at the National Assembly to vote the bill modifying the 1996 Constitution is yet to settle, as Hon Emilia Lifaka has declined responsibility over the alleged forgery.

According to Hon Lifaka, although Hon. Ayah's position on the recent constitutional amendment debate was clear - that he was against the amendment, he had earlier left a signed proxy (power of attorney for someone to act on his behalf) in parliament which was to be used in a plenary session when need arises,

even though he did not state which of the sessions and for what purpose it had to be used. Thus, according to her, CPDM MPs who were in dire need of Ayah's vote to have a 100 percent support for the bill took advantage of his absence and voted on his behalf.

But the issue has become more controversial since Ayah has refused he left any proxy and it appears there are two proxies - one at the National Assembly and one published by the French daily, Mutations, which is alleged to be forged. Other tabloids bluntly said Lifaka forged the proxy, connived with the CPDM Parliamentary group leader, Ndongo Essomba, and voted on behalf of his colleague.

But Ayah, speaking on local radio, denied that he left any power of attorney for the constitutional amendment, yet he admitted he had earlier issued a power of attorney in parliament. He, however, said someone had forged his signature and issued a power of attorney, which was used against his wish. According to him, if an MP's power of attorney had to be used for any purpose he has to be contacted to give his accord.

Reacting to accusations of forgery and betrayal, Hon Lifaka in a press briefing Monday, April 21, declined blame over the forged proxy. "I saw a proxy in parliament signed by Ayah and addressed to me but it had nothing to do with that published in Mutations. I do not know how it came there because I do not issue proxies.

When I saw it I called him, but he said he did not give a proxy."Even against claims that parliament forged a power of attorney and acted unlawfully, Lifaka maintained that parliament did not forge anything. "What was published in the newspaper had no parliamentary stamp and so we do not recognise it. When an MP issues a proxy, he does not write any date on it and so can be used at any time," she said.

In spite of his strong opposition to the constitutional amendment and claims of pressure on him, observers have blamed Ayah for leaving parliament at a time he had to stand firm and vote against the bill.

They argue that he had no cogent reason to leave at that point in time considering that an important decision concerning the fate of the nation was to be taken. Besides the issue of the power of attorney, rumours are rife that Hon Lifaka hosted Southwest CPDM Parliamentarians in Yaounde and bribed them to vote for the contentious bill. CPDM MPs were also said to have been rewarded colossal sums as compensation for endorsing the bill.

Lifaka, however, denied the allegations that she hosted and bribed CPDM MPs to vote the bill. Also, both MPs have also denied that they received money after the endorsement of the bill.

However, parliament's silence on the issue of the proxy has raised suspicion in many whether the law making house was condoning the alleged fraud. It is still unclear who of the two MPs is telling the truth.