Arrests of NW Mayors for Misappropriation to Extend to Bui Division This Week

- Batibo Mayor Denied Bail Again; Mbengwi, Ndop, Andek, Balikumbat Risks Transferred To Bamenda Prison

By Tetuh Mbah

Despite his boasts and resistance that he cannot be picked-up, Wasum Augustine, Mayor of Balikumbat council has since spent a week at the Ndop prison. He was the last mayor in Ngoketunjia to have been picked-up over the scam in the sale of communal stamps, which saw the state treasury, running short of some 163.690.000 FCFA. With the chapter closed for Momo and Ngoketunjia mayors, Chronicle gathered that the arrest web extends to Bui division this week, with Mbon Wilfred, the former mayor of Mbiame council to be hooked. Yet, allegations are rife that the mayors of Mbengwi, Andek, Ndop, Babessi who have been detained at their various divisional prisons, may be ferried to meet Mayor Lawrence Tenoh of Batibo at the Bamenda regional/central prison.

Mbon Wilfred, former mayor of Mbiame is accused to have misappropriated some 6 million FCFA being revenue from communal stamps, just as a certain Kum Simon Buh, a businessman in Mbiame linked with 8 million FCFA. What has baffled commentators is how a businessman came in contact with communal stamps.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Ndangoh Tenoh, mayor of Batibo, who was the first to have been arrested, appeared at the Batibo court of first instance, last Friday, September 7, 2012. He is the only mayor detained outside his division, though Chronicle gathered that he had completed the payment of the 17.3 million FCFA, charged of having misappropriated.

Tenoh was in court (chambers) yet no bail was granted to him. Chronicle gathered that a dramatic twist in his affair, is the fact that the Examining Magistrate was changed. Another was designated, whom Chronicle learnt, would begin fresh investigations when Tenoh re-appears in chambers on September 20, 2012.

Worthy to note that when Tenoh first appeared before the Examining Magistrate in Batibo some 5 weeks ago, he was granted bail. But when ferried to the Bamenda prison to finalize his release documents, this was denied. Chronicle learnt that instructions came from Yaounde that Tenoh’s crime of misappropriation was unbailable. He had since remained in custody at the Bamenda prison.

Tenoh’s other colleagues in Momo division are helmed at the Mbengwi prison, just like the mayors of Ndop, Babessi and Balikumbat in Ngoketunjia, detained at the Ndop prison. Last weekend, Chronicle gathered that Yaounde had instructed that all the mayors be bundled but to the Bamenda prison, for obvious reason: that following security reports, the penitentiary authorities of the Mbengwi and Ndop prisons have been laxed over the ‘VIP’ prisoners. Moreso, to shun criticisms as to why only the Batito mayor is detained in Bamenda for a crime his other colleagues too committed.

The law Chronicle has been told, is clear about the present deadlock within the Batibo, Mbengwi, Andek, Ndop, Babessi and Balikumbat councils. A week ago, a source at the ministry of territorial administration and decentralization, MINATD hinted Chronicle that instructions had been dished out to the North West administration, with the Momo and Ngoketunjia senior divisional officers, SDOs alerted.

It is expected that not long, new elections of mayors of Batibo, Mbengwi, Andek in Momo division on the one hand and Ndop, Babessi and Balikumbat in Ngoketunjia on the other would hold. Yet, Adolph Lele Lafrique, North West Governor is presently observing his annual leave. It is believed that once he resumes, action about electing new mayors, would be speedy.

Even though the accused mayors have the same charges, Tah George Mbah, mayor of Mbengwi has other matters. The Andek, Mbengwi mayors would appear before the examining magistrate on September 11, 2012. Chronicle has been told that none of them would be released. Yet, Tah George has another criminal charge, proffered against him. Chronicle gathered that it comes up in September 17 and a Situation Directe over the issue of ghost contracts on September 26, 2012.

Mobilization however hots up, for the impending election of new mayors for Batibo, Mbengwi and Andek in Momo and Ndop, Babessi and Balikumbat in Ngoketunjia. With the case in Mbengwi, Chronicle gathered that Hon PC Fonso, the kingmaker wants a certain Odilia Fominyen to be imposed, not even Edna Mbah- the district chair or Awamdam, the first deputy, preferred by the SDO. Yet, following Chronicle’s sampling, it is instead an outsider Joshua Ndingwan Mukuro on the lips of majority of the councillors.

For Batibo, Councillor Werewum Maurice, recently transferred punitively to Furu Awah, confided in Chronicle that he has no interest to conclude the Tenoh mandate. For Andek, everyone is poised to see the first deputy Akwaifeh wrap up and even continue. (Affair a suivre…)