National Assembly: Laurent Esso Spills the Beans Over Bibi Ngota’s Death At Last!

- But Tchiroma Under Fire Seeks Solace At Base

By Musa Isa

The death of journalist Germain Cyrille Ngota Ngota alias Bibi Ngota, last year plurged the Cameroon government into peril. It was tagged as anti-democratic and press freedom. Amadou Ali, Vice Prime Minister in charge of Justice made clarifications. Even Issa Tchiroma Bakari replicated same. Bibi Ngota’s death at the Kondengui prison was attached to HIV/AIDS. Yet, the principal accused, Laurent Esso then Secretary General at the Presidency was mute. Issa Tchiroma who defended him last year presently has his own woes. He tried to clear the clouds.

Last week, Laurent Esso, now Minister of Justice created the unexpected. While defending the bill on the new criminal court, he made clarifications over his alleged involvement in the Bibi Ngota’s affair. No member of parliament raised a question over the issue. Yet, Minister Esso took time off to narrate how Bibi Ngota had requested for information over some 1.342 million FCFA, meant for the acquisition of a badge at Rio de Rey.

Laurent Esso told parliament that with the existing security structures consulted, over what Bibi Ngota was up to, his arrest was thereon effected by the Director General of External Research (DGRE-Cener). He said investigations had to be opened over the threat of security by the presidency, which he pulsated to. He concluded that he, Laurent Esso was neither the complainant nor plaintiff to the matter.

The Minister of State, Laurent Esso however told MPs that it was the Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) which effectively bought over the badge in 2009. He reiterated that he as SG at the Presidency had no hand in the purchase of the badge at Rio de Rey.

Bibi Ngota’s long ended in parliament last year, when both the communication minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari and the vice prime minister Amadou Ali made clarifications following his death.

Meanwhile, before parliament wrapped-up last week, the Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma was still not at ease. Parliament, Chronicle is aware failed to institute a commission of enquiry over allegations made in Marafa’s 4^th letter. The detained Minister of State in charge of Territorial Administration and Decentralization unveiled the unclean nature of Tchiroma. He posited how he had advise President Biya not to reappoint Tchiroma into government, following his intrigues. Accordingly, Tchiroma was involved in the siphoning of some 32 billion FCFA, meant for the compensation of victims of the 1995 aircraft disaster in Yaounde.

Tchiroma told militants of his Salvation Party in Garoua recently, that contrary to allegations that he ‘pocketed’ the 32 billion FCFA, it was instead disbursed into state coffers. The communication minister went forward to dispel allegations that he had okayed the disbursement of Cameroon government subsidy to renowned world media like BBC, France Television and a Japanese Channel.

Tchiroma had since become a major subject of criticisms, following the alleged disbursement of subsidies to BBC, France TV, which individually control amounts far more than the yearly state budget of Cameroon. Government assistance, Chronicle is aware is meant for the private press in Cameroon, which has continuously cried out of financial constraints.