After Dead of 4 Ostriches: Danpullo Set to Drag Wildlife Minister to Court

By Yussuf Sariki

Out of eight ostriches confiscated by Ngole Philip Ngwese, Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, only five (5) were returned to El Hadj Baba Hamadou Danpullo. Even a day after the five were received, one dropped dead. This, Chronicle has been told has attracted varied sympathies. Sources close to the Ndawara business magnet told Chronicle that Danpullo would not rescind but want to see justice take its course, over the wellbeing of his birds.

Last weekend, Chronicle learnt that Danpullo has been contemplating legal action against Ngole Philip Ngwese in person. Accordingly, following investigations, he used his portfolio as Minister to stifle/prevent Danpullo from having his birds.

It was only after the personal intervention of President Paul Biya, that Ngole Philip Ngwese was thus forced to hand back the birds. Chronicle has been investigating what caused him to withhold the release of the birds.

Instead of eight ostriches, just five were handed through a bailiff: one reportedly died a few days after. This Chronicle has been told, has raised brows about the welfare of eth birds, while being withheld. Worse still, the intentions of withholding the birds by Ngole Philip Ngwese have not been well deciphered. Reason why Chronicle has been told, Danpullo would need to have clarity from the courts.

The Facts of the Matter

The globetrotter business mogul, Baba Danpullo in one of his business sojourns in Nigeria was offered 8 ostriches for breeding in his Ndawara ranch. Baba Danpullo was assured of the certificates of the origins of the birds that were offered him gratis. And the business magnet accepted the birds because he wanted their number in Cameroon to increase and serve as a tourist attraction to Cameroon. Baba Danpullo’s workers that were transporting the ostriches to Cameroon by land were intercepted by custom officials at Ekok in the South West Region. They were asked to pay custom duties to the tune of FCFA 1.000.000 and FCFA 500.000 for penalties. This amount was settled without any qualms and the customs allowed Baba Danpullo’s worker to continue their journey with the ostriches. In an unexpected twist forestry officials who were with the customs decided to confiscate the birds and immediately carted them to Mamfe before taking them to the Limbe Botanical Gardens on the instructions of the SW Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife, who justified his transfer of the birds by decision No. 119/TA/MINFOF/RDOF/RSWPAS/SW/150 issued on May 19, 2012.

Informed of the situation, the governor of the South West Region, Okalia Bilai in a fax message No. 004/MP/G/GC.106/SG dated May 21, 2012 requested the SW Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife to without further delay hand over the birds to the proprietor, Baba Danpullo. The SW Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife refused to comply with the governor’s injunction arguing that he receives instructions solely from his minister, Ngole Philip Ngwese. Baba Danpullo had to resort to the law courts and the administrative chambers of the Supreme Court was notified of the incident. The Supreme Court by ordinance No. 98/OSE/CCA/CS/ 2012 issued on September 14, 2012 gave Baba Danpullo right of ownership of the ostriches. Ngole Philip Ngwese and the Mvog-Betsi conservator where the birds were finally transferred were notified on September 24, 2012 and given 15 days to execute the orders of the Supreme Court. After the expiry of the 15 days, Paul Mah, sheriff/bailiff at the Centre Region Appeal Court served the Mvog-Betsi conservator obliging him to execute the judgment of the court, but the conservator retorted that he could only restitute the birds by an order from his minister, Ngole Philip Ngwese. After failing to recuperate the birds, the bailiff noticed that three of the 8 birds that arrived Cameroon alive had died. One died in the Limbe botanical garden while two died in Yaounde due to the poor health conditions under which they were held. He established a report to this effect.

What Awaits Ngole Philip Ngwese

President Paul Biya is a legalist. He always respects the laws and the law courts; reason he takes his oath in the Supreme Court to serve the nation. It was for this reason that when he was asked to comment on the Marafa letters, he said the law courts in Cameron are independent and he will respect the decisions of the court. It then beats the imagination of all Cameroonians how people appointed by the Head of State should deride the decisions of the courts. It is on record that Ama Muna, Minister of Culture disobeyed the decision of the courts in the CMC/SOCAM saga. Today it is another Anglophone Minister, Ngole Philip Ngwese who disobeyed the decision of the Supreme Court, forcing the Head of State to intervene to render justice.

Ngole Philip Ngwese in disobeying the decisions of the courts was like challenging the merits of the Cameroon judiciary. Equally he was exposing the state to litigation as Baba Danpullo could initiate litigation against the state. Chances are that Baba Danpullo initiates litigation to correct the prejudice he has suffered because three of the birds have died. If this is to happen, Ngole Philip Ngwese will bear the blunt of the law and perhaps pay damages for his overzealousness. Since Ngole Philip Ngwese has shown his limits as an administrator, requiring the Head of State to step in and resolve what he could have handled, it would surprise nobody if he is shown the exit door in the next government.eadHead Robert E. Lee opined that, ‘Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.’ Ngole Philip Ngwese has none and should leave government instead of committing managerial errors that bring international shame to Cameroon.