Fru Ndi To Storm Yaounde For Marafa’s Case?

By Tetuh Mbah

When Christian Cardinal Tumi appeared at the Mfoundi high court in Yaounde last year and took position with Jean Marie Atangana Mebara, many brows were raised. Cardinal Tumi had long clarified why he went to court to sympathize with someone charged with the embezzlement of state funds. From Tuesday July 24, 2012 when the Marafa embezzlement case would resume, the one prominent face expected to be in court would be Ni John Fru Ndi.

Last weekend, Ntarinkon sources hinted Chronicle that the SDF National Chairman would be in Yaounde, yet did not specify the exact date/day. Chronicle was told that given indications that the Marafa matter would be heard on a daily basis, Fru Ndi would be there on one of the days.

The presence of the SDF National Chairman at the Mfoundi high court may generate more excitement especially as Marafa himself has been a center of attraction. When he first appeared in court last week (on July 16, 2012) over 3000 people were around the precincts of the court. Marafa was given a standing ovation as he alighted the bus that brought him to court.

Troops had been deployed to keep order, yet without intimidating anyone. The excitement outside the court was moreso, given the headache which Marafa has given the Biya regime, with his four (4) letters. The curious crowd gave him a rapturous ovation and even asked to know when his 5^th letter would be released.

Marafa’s 4^th letter remains the most deadly and has set the Biya regime in utter consternation. It was in the 4^th letter that Marafa unveiled the mafia that surrounded the 1995 Camair plane crash. In it, he alleged that Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who was Minister of Transport at the time, needs to be questioned about the whereabouts of some 32.5 billion FCFA meant to compensate victims of the crash.

When the Marafa issue first came up last week, Justice Gilbert Schlick adjourned the case for this week. He said the matter would be heard on a daily basis, until the verdict is passed. The matter was adjourned given complains that the defence lawyers had not laid hands on the case file. It is even Prof Kofele Kale, SDF Shadow Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is the lead counsel.

This is where Fru Ndi is connected to the matter. Marafa’s case, Chronicle gathered even came up on the floor of the last National Executive Committee, NEC meeting some 10 days ago. Critics have however not been comfortable with the fact that the same Marafa, whom Fru Ndi dragged to court for telling lies about him, should be the same person he should be backing in a case of embezzlement.

The Mfoundi high court wants Marafa to clear himself over the whereabouts of 24 billion FCFA, meant for the purchase of the dreaded presidential plane, the Albatros. Marafa was Secretary General at the Presidency at the time and handled the file.

Arrested alongside Chief Ephraim Inoni, former Prime Minister some 2 months ago, Marafa was detained at Kondengui. He was later transferred to the Gendarmerie, SED headquarters, where Chronicle learnt his detention conditions there were bteer. It is believed that because the case has a lot to do with the life of the presidential family given credence why the matter is being handled with utmost care.