|
|
Cameroon: Akame Mfoumou Interrogated
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The Post (Buea)
16 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
Kini Nsom & Azore Opio
Judicial police Wednesday, May 13, at its headquarters in Yaounde interrogated former Economy and Finance Minister, Edouard Akame Mfoumou.
The sexagenarian is said to have driven into the headquarters of the Judicial Police at Elig-Essono at about 9 am, where he was grilled for six hours on alleged embezzlement of public funds during his tenure of office.
Police sources said the former Minister looked quite composed and robust even when he was leaving the police station.No significant evidence filtered from Akame Mfoumou's file, but his interrogation is not unconnected with government's ongoing fight against corruption.
Although Akame Mfoumou's name features prominently on the list of those the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, earmarked for investigations on financial crimes, his interrogation, our sources say, had to do with the Abah Abah file.
Abah Abah is being charged with the embezzlement of public funds derived from the Value Added Tax, VAT, when he was Director of Taxation.The interrogation of Akame Mfoumou is understood because when Abah Abah was the Director of Taxation, Akame Mfoumou was the Minister of the Economy and Finance.
He should be answering questions as to how his subordinate could mismanage huge sums of money in his own eyes.Akame Mfoumou left government on April 27, 2007 when a presidential decree relieved him of his functions as the Minister of Finance and the Economy.
He had served the nation in several capacities including General Manager of BICIC, the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic and the Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence.
Early Suspicion
Akame Mfoumou's interrogation should have come much earlier in 2001 when it was reported that security operatives found FCFA 7.7 billion cached in a "strong room" in his house after he had been sacked as Minister of Economy and Finance, MINEFI, (The Post No. 0272, Monday, May 14, 2001).
Reliable security sources had told The Post that the loot, stored in boxes and cartoons, was discovered in Akame Mfoumou's Santa Barbara residence in Yaounde.Apparently, Akame Mfoumou was the only person with the key to the strong room, and on Sundays he would lock himself in the house, counting the money.
Akame's suspicious possession of such a huge amount of money stashed away in his house lent some credence to allegations that he had over FCFA 30 billion at home and abroad
In the wake of this discovery, Akame's residence was put under tight surveillance.
It would also be recalled that when Akame Mfoumou returned from one of his overseas trips, security operatives confiscated his passport at the Nsimalen Airport.At the time we were filing this report in 2001, Akame was reported to be one of the most fabulously wealthy Cameroonians.
It is not surprising, considering the nonchalant attitude of the state and its systematic engagement then in the cover up of corruption, embezzlement and graft, that Akame Mfoumou enjoyed freedom, liberty and comfort until recently.
Plot To Overthrow Biya
The momentous discovery in Akame Mfoumou's house would take a new astonishing twist, when it was rumoured that he was eyeing President Paul Biya's throne. (The Post No. 270, 2001)
These suspicions were heightened by the speculation that when Akame Mfoumou was Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, (1990-1996) he reportedly bought arms from Slovakia, which government never saw. His intention, to overthrow Biya.
Thus, speculation that the billions in his keeping were in connection with his alleged plot to overthrow Biya found currency in a sceptical regime. This prompted then Defence Minister Ahmadou Ali to put the military on red alert, for fear of an impending attack on the presidential palace.
|
As we go to press, investigations into financial malpractices in government high places keeps narrowing down on people who were once darlings of President Biya.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 The Post. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
