By Tetuh Mbah
The Minister of Territorial
Administration and Decentralization, MINATD has okayed the putting in place of
‘interim mayors’ in some six (6) councils in North West Region. These are
councils, whose mayors have been detained for their alleged involvement in acts
of misappropriation. Yet, more than 3 months since they were arrested and
detained, there have been no hope about their release. Last weekend, Chronicle
learnt from a source at the Ndop legal department that the detained Mayors of
Ndop, Babessi and Balikumbat had written to the Minister of Justice, requesting
for clemency.
Chronicle
learnt that the mayors had written, complaining that the amount they were said
to have misappropriated had long been paid back: thus needless having them
detained.
Ntoh Daniel of
Ndop is said to have since paid in all 9.795.000 FCFA just as Wasum Augustine
of Balikumbat. While Stephen Tikanjo of Babessi, Chronicle learnt had also paid
some 21.8 million FCFA. All of which was revenue for communal stamps, which
they allegedly misappropriated. Their complaint, Chronicle learnt is on the
table of Laurent Esso, Minister of Justice.
Yet, a source
at the Ministry of Justice hinted Chronicle that what was important for now was
not the fact that the mayors had refunded the money: that they were being
detained for the crime committed. It is unclear whether the Minister would
pulsate to their requests, given that crimes on embezzlement/misappropriation
and felony are unbailable.
The situation
of the mayors in Momo division is even more intriguing. Chronicle gathered that
only the mayors of Batibo (Tenoh Lawrence) and Mbengwi (Tah George Mbah) have
been able to refund 17.3 million FCFA and 20 million FCFA they allegedly
siphoned respectively. But Johnny Agogho, mayor of Andek has been unable to
raise 34 million, thus may not be granted clemency if deemed necessary.
Within the
interim, with six mayors behind bars, their respective councils still move on.
Recently, MINATD confirmed the appointment of interim mayors. Many have
criticized this to be outside the law, which provides for a 60 days laps,
within which a new mayor is supposed to be elected.
In Ndop, Mbombo
Abel Chenyi has replaced Ntoh Daniel; for Babessi, Tamfu Enusa is interim
mayor, while in Balikumbat, it is the female 1st deputy calling the
shots. Yet, they don’t have full powers, given that the Supervisory Authority
(SDO) still has to visa bills/paymens.
The scenario
attains same in Momo division, wherein Tanjoh Fred has temporally succeeded
Tenoh Lawrence in Batibo; just as Awandum Richard sits-in for Tah George in
Mbengwi. For Andek, Akwafei Monica sits-in for Johnny Agogho.
Chronicle
learnt that these acting mayors have not had things move on well, given the
almost empty coffers they are managing. The situation in Andek is hell, where
Chronicle learnt. Agogho emptied everything. In Ndop, Chronicle learnt that
Mbombo Abel inherited just 50.000 FCFA and a heap of unpaid bills amounting to
several tens of million (affair a suivre…
umeikai jeremaiah is the enterim mayor for Andek not Akwafei monica,you Guys are so pathetic with ur reporting.You need to earn some reputation with ur work.Do not rely on infos from ubango helly and friends,chronicle,do ur assignment
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