Tenoh, 1st SDF Official Caught In Operation Epervier

- Fright Grips Andek, Mbengwi, Babessi, Ndop, Balikumbat Mayors

By Tetuh Mbah

Lawrence Ndangoh Tenoh, goes on record as the first SDF official to be wrapped-up in the “Sparrow Hawk Operation” (Operation Epervier). He is the SDF mayor for Batibo, Hon Joseph Mbahndam’s constituency. Mayor Tenoh was picked up last Thursday July 18, 2012 in Batibo and ferried to Bamenda. Tenoh has spent four (4) nights at the Bamenda prison. His crime? Misappropriation of 17.3 million FCFA. Two other SDF mayors (Babessi and Mbengwi) as well as the three CPDM mayors (Ndop, Balikumbat and Andek) are also being trailed. Chronicle gathered that their arrest too is inevitable.

Tenoh was arrested following a complaint that he misappropriated some 18 million FCFA being revenue derived from communal stamps. He had even paid-in 700.000 FCFA. Yet, in the list of mayors involved in the racket, Tenoh did not have the highest amount. Many have questioned why he is the first to be picked up.

Following Chronicle’s investigations other complaints compounded Tenoh to be arrested first. Sources at the legal department hinted Chronicle that a complaint had been tabled about Tenoh’s doubtful handling of finances as Batibo mayor.

It is alleged that he connived with MABECAM, the contractor executing the construction of the Batibo council chambers to siphon some 210 million FCFA, meant for the project. Worse still, Tenoh has been soliciting for some 99 million FCFA to be augmented by FEICOM, for same project.

Tenoh’s handling of sensitive issues, like the youth centre, had since received wide criticisms. He is said to have carried the centre to his native Tiben village. Worse still, the fact that he okayed the construction of a market at Ofen-Tiben, his village at some 50 million FCFA has raised dust.

Reacting to Tenoh’s arrest, Councillor Elias Nwati, loser at the SDF district chairmanship race in Batibo regretted Tenoh’s arrest. He told Chronicle that proper investigations would have first been conducted before the arrest. Nwati said Batibo is restive except CPDM militants who have been jubilating. Nwati qualified Tenoh’s arrest as “political victimization to tarnish the image of SDF”, though posited that “the law should take its course”.

Fon Teche Njei, CPDM section president for Momo east and central committee member simply told Chronicle on phone that “justice should take its course”. He said since Cameroon is a state of law and the courts are independent, “if Tenoh is found guilty, he should be persecuted”.

Walters Mudoh, the APF coordinator for Batibo (Ben Muna’s party) and aspirant to take over the Babito council, regretted Tenoh’s arrest: “I don’t jubilate to see a comrade politician behind bars”. Mudoh said the rule of the law should however take its course, adding that “I want to win elections by merits, not by a situation”.

Chronicle gathered that Tenoh had to be tricked to appear in court. He was then whisked off to Bamenda, where the state counsel is said to have remanded him in custody at the Bamenda prison. Chronicle learnt that efforts by Barristers Eric Mbah and Akum Henry Ajime to release him on bail were futile. Hon Mbahndam is said not to have visited Tenoh in prison by press time.

Chronicle gathered that Tenoh testified during investigations that he was duped to buy stamps. Allegations are rife that the middle man is a certain Emmanuel Backs, who presently is said to be in very bad shape. Chronicle gathered that this has been a deal stroke by most mayors, wherein they collect stamps and auction them to a middle-man at a give-away cost, then pocket the money.

Apart from Tenoh, other mayors involved in this same racket include:

For CPDM - Agogho Johnny of Andek (34 million); Ntoh Daniel of Ndop (9.795.000) just as Wasum Augustine of Balikubat.

For SDF mayors - Tah George Mbah of Mbengwi (20 million  FCFA) and Tikanjoh Stephen of Babessi (21.8 million FCFA).

Other exceptional cases involved, include: Amahndong Godwill (1^st deputy mayor of Njikwa). He had paid 1 million out of 33.8 million FCFA; Awanakam Godlove (former SDF mayor of Andek) - 4 million FCFA; Mbou Wilfred (former mayor of Mbiame) – 6 million FCFA and Kum Simon Buh, a businessman in Mbiame at 8 million FCFA. All the money misappropriated amounts to 163.690.000 FCFA.