Cameroonian newspaper editor jailed for defamation

Courtesy CPJ 

New York, April 15, 2014--Authorities in Cameroon should release a newspaper editor who has been imprisoned since March 29 after being convicted of criminal defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On Friday, a judge postponed indefinitely a bail hearing for Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus, according to news reports.

On March 10, a court in the northwestern city of Bamenda sentenced Nicodemus, publisher and editor of the private weekly The Monitor, to four months in prison and ordered him to pay 10 million CFA francs in damages (US$21,000), his defense lawyer, Yijofmen Kol, told CPJ. The journalist was not at the trial, news reports said. He is being held at a prison in Bamenda.

Kol told CPJ he has appealed the conviction and that a hearing is scheduled for April 28.

The charges were based on a complaint filed by the Cameroon Co-operative Credit Union League (CAMCCUL), an umbrella body of cooperative credit unions, over a series of articles published in The Monitor. The articles alleged, among other things, that the microfinance institution had used and distributed unlicensed software, embezzled funds, and engaged in bribery, according to a copy of the judgment which CPJ obtained. CAMCCUL denied the allegations.

The court also accused Nicodemus of failing to respond to a summons that had allegedly been served to him on December 16, according to the judgment. Kol told CPJ the journalist never received any notice of proceedings against him. The court issued an arrest warrant for Nicodemus after the verdict was announced, and he was picked up by police in the capital, Yaoundé, before being taken to Bamenda, according to Kol.

The African Union's special rapporteur on freedom of expression and access to information has called for the repeal of criminal defamation laws on the continent.

"Defamation complaints against the press should be settled before civil court. Journalists are too often sent to prison in order to suppress allegations of corruption," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on authorities in Bamenda to release Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus pending his appeal."

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WILL AYAH Paul RESIGN?

By Akoson A. Raymond

-          Illegality surrounding the Dec. 18, 2014 Supreme Court Appointments;

-          The streets of Yaoundé are rife with rumours about his planned resignation if technical errors were not corrected.

Ayah Paul

I was privy to the cocktail party of Jan. 30, 2015 at the Supreme Court balcony on the occasion of the installation of the most recently appointed members of the Supreme Court. I was in the queue, awaiting my turn to grab some chewable when a man –looking serious and busy – spoke, inter alia, over my shoulders in French (my translation in English);

“…food is almost finished; yet, the Premier Avocat Général hasn’t been served…”

 I turned around, tapped him on the shoulder and pointed in Chief Justice AYAH Paul’s direction.

 “Is that not the ‘premier avocat general’?” I questioned.

 A third, another francophone who’d been standing in front of me took an interest in our discussion.  He insinuated that President Biya’s December 2014 decree appointing members of the Supreme Court had technical errors that ought to have been corrected prior to the installation. Murmuring alone in bewilderment, he questioned;

 “…Il n’a pas encore rectifie le probleme hierarchie concernant ancien depute Ayah Paul…?” [My failure to translate this quote is deliberate]. 

 This conversation vividly reminded me of the publication in the Kalara newspaper, arguing forcefully that juniors had been appointed over Ayah Paul illegally. I also remembered panel discussions on at least two private radio stations in Yaoude, coming to the same conclusion. All this of course tickled me to research into the Francophone /Anglophone positions in the Supreme Court of Cameroun. My finding to say the least were utterly nauseating. Truly, the Supreme Court of Cameroon is an institution where Anglophone marginalization is at the climax.

 The leading  positions (quarters that wield real power) at the Supreme Court of Cameroon in a descending order are as follows: the President of the Supreme Court (le Premier Président de la Cour Suprême); the Attorney General (le Procureur Général); the President of the Criminal Division (le Président de la Chambre Criminelle), the President of the Administrative Division (le Président de la Chambre Administrative), the President of the Audit Division (le Président de la Chambre des Comptes), the 1^st Deputy Attorney General (le Premier Avocat Général); and the Secretary General (Secrétaire Général de la Cour Suprême)…

Since reunification (a ‘reunion’ that ought to have brought together two peoples equal in status) some 54 years ago, no Anglophone has been judged qualified enough to occupy any of these positions.  A certain Chief Justice Epuli Mathias once came close. But he only served as an Acting President of the Administrative Division (Président par interim de la Chambre Administrative). But Biya and his Francophone-Beti government hastened to write him off in that “C’est un anglo”.

 For the sake of space and time, we leave the analysis of the francophone /Anglophone composition of other divisions of the Supreme Court for another day. We propose only to underline for now President Biya’s blatant illegality (could it be an oversight?) on Dec. 18, 2014, in appointing judges to the Attorney General’s Office of the Supreme Court.

The case of HRH Hon. Lord Justice AYAH Paul ABINE.

The Attorney General’s Office (the Legal Department of the Supreme Court) to which Chief Justice AYAH Paul was appointed comprises the Attorney General (le Procureur Général), the 1^st Deputy Attorney General (Premier Avocat Général), and other “avocats genereaux”. It is disgusting fantasy that AYAH Paul (who has reached the zenith of his career in the judiciary – haux hierarchie premier groupe) is only one of four avocats generaux, whereas George Mbengue, of Super Scaledeuxiemme groupe is 1^st Deputy Attorney General, (Premier Avocat Général), over AYAH Paul.

 It is a sacrosanct matter of law, just like in the military, that a subordinate cannot be placed in a position of authority above someone higher than him on the echelon. President Biya’s appointment of Mr. George Mbengue, of Super Scaledeuxiemme groupe to boss Chief Justice Ayah Paul therefore desecrates the law, and constitutes not only an affront to Anglophones but an act of gross illegality.

 And it doesn’t end there…

 It is also clear in law that where two magistrates are equal on the same hierarchical plane (in this case, both men are hors hierarchie premier group), the older in age must be appointed in preference. Chief Justice AYAH Paul, the Anglophone boy, from my investigation, is older than the current Attorney General Mr. Luc Ndjondo. This makes AYAH Paul the rightful Attorney General (Procureur Général). But that is not the case…

The question now is whether, as wild rumours are already circulating in the streets of Yaoundé, the no-nonsense Chief Justice Ayah Paul that we know, (who has ever been so allergic to unlawful acts in the past) is contemplating resigning if those “technical errors” are not corrected in the near future. Only time shall tell

SDF Secretary General throws In the Towel

Benjamin Ngah in Ntarikon Palace

Viewed and interpreted by many in varied sheds of opinion, but the verity remains plain, Mrs. Tamanjong Elizabeth is no longer the Secretary General of the Social democratic Front-SDF of Ni John Fru Ndi. Her resignation which circulated in the early morning of Saturday 14^th of February, 2015 like hot gossip typical of the political landscape in Cameroon was finally confirmed by the National Chair of the SDF Ni John Fru Ndi during the regular National Executive meeting (NEC) which held on that same day late that morning. Her resignation to some was a pleasant surprise and to others was overdue because of her over bossing attitude not only towards the National chair, but to other party hierarchy. Her resignation letter which the Times Journal got hold of was clandestinely and joyfully distributed by an SDF member of Parliament to some news organs before she actually tabled it to the chairman. In it she states that the SDF has continuously drifted from its initial vision of true democratic practice preached at the party’s creation in 1990. She said values and principles of the party such as social justice, equal opportunities, transparency and accountability are no longer practiced in the SDF

According to her, the three power organs of the party – the National Executive Committee, NEC, National Advisory Committee, NAC, and National Investiture Committee, NIC, should play complementary roles, and chaired by different people. This, she said, will give room for checks and balances that do not presently exist in the party.

Accepting her resignation as the Secretary General of the Party, the National Chair of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi thanked her for her service to the party regardless of some abnormalities in her handling of some pertinent issues that concerned the life of the party. According to Ni John Fru Ndi, many people within the party have failed to understand that at the moment when the country is undergoing serious crises including threats from Boko Haram which calls for greater unity within the party so that a way out could be sort, some people want to make capital gain of the confusion to mar the ambition of the party. In this regard, he called for vigilance, steadfastness and dedication so that the in unity the SDF could take Cameroon out of the socio, economic and political quack mire.

Probably because of what Ni John terms as Pull him Down (PhD) syndrome, the relationship between the SDF and most of her Secretary Generals have been grim and that of cats and dogs. . Many of them beginning from late Dr. Siga Asanga, Prof. Asonganyi and now Dr. Mrs. Tamanjong Elizabeth have all thrown in the towel citing one reason or the other. All of them are PhD holders and probably suffering from the syndrome cited above. Many a time their resignations have been blighted by some pecuniary mischief or mere fullness of themselves which renders them defiant to the National Chair of the party.

Her resignation from the SDF cannot be undermined also. It is a big blow to a party which for many years has been looked up to by many Cameroonians as a quintessence of change. The so many resignations from the party and the use of the famously infamous article 8.2 to stifle dissent is not doing any good for the party. Going by what many observers hold, the SDF can be better is the party put in democratic institutions which allows for discussions, disagreement and opposition within the party that could help to make internal democracy vibrant in the party. Many people even think that what separates the SDF from the CPDM is a very thin and fragile line that is already being eroded.       

The resignation of Mrs. Tamanjong therefore gives the National Chairman the latitude to appoint a new Secretary General of the party as provided by the SDF constitution.  

Fru Ndi’s Brother Crowned 3rd Class Chief In Manyu

Ngah Benjamin in Mamfe

Paramount Leader of Mamfe declare Cho Isaiah Ndi installed

            A tricolor flag of green- red- yellow now flaps from a five meter long pole planted in the court yard of Ntumfor Cho Isaiah Ndi, junior brother to the National Chairman of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi following his anointment, initiation into “ekpe” secret society and coronation as 3^rd class chief in the Mamfe chiefdom with his sphere of influence being the famous High Ways Quarter, Mamfu. The national flag, symbol of authority was handed over to him in a ground breaking coronation ceremony; the first of its kind took place on the 24^th of January, 2015. The coronation ritual was performed by the paramount ruler of Mamfe, Chief Godson Orock Oben in the presence of  Manyu administrators, other traditional authorities and a cross section of the population who came from far and near.

           Being the first ever non indigene of Manyu to be made chief, Ntumfor Cho Isaiah was cautioned by various speakers especially Chief Godson Orock to be an exemplary ruler. He was told not to rule his subjects not with an iron fist, but to put reason, common sense and the wisdom of King Solomon in use. Describing Chief Cho Isaiah Ndi as the light of the people worth emulating, he called upon him to be closer to his people and to make sure he works hand in glove with the administrators of the Division to guarantee security and the interests of the inhabitants within his jurisdiction.

           Speaking to journalists, the elated and high spirited Chief Cho Isaiah Ndi expressed profound gratitude to the population and to the paramount leader of Mamfe for the bestowed trust on his humble person. According to him, his acceptance by the population of Mamfe as their chief was a perfect paradigm of national integration worth emulating by others. Here him, “I have learnt a lot here in Mamfe. I have learnt that we must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s reason why I am calling on my Fons of the North West to also open up and receive strangers openly. They should also be able to give to whoever deserves what his or her due.”

New Chief of High Ways Makes Maiden Speech

          While hoping that he would not let his subjects and the system down, he outline his priority projects which he intends to carry out forthwith  in the quarter which include the opening of roads, lighting of dark corners and the rehabilitation of an old and abandoned German well for constant supply of potable water in the quarter.  With a council of twenty four including five women, Chief Isaiah intends to transform the High Way quarter into a modern quarter worth the salt.

Reactions

Retired Senior Civil Administrator

                    I would say when something is good, we should accept. Chief Cho Isaiah is the finest. Through his behavior and works at the service of this community I think he deserves it. It is just giving Caesar his due and I can only wish him well. The population has found favor in him and as the saying goes, the voice of the people is the voice of God. God chooses a leader and Chief Cho Isaiah Ndi is a chosen one. We would give him our full support to succeed. By making Chief Cho Isaiah Ndi, a non indigene of Mamfe, it is a demonstration that we are following the policy of national integration as preached by H.E President Paul Biya

Madame Enow Margaret: retired administrative Sec.

                      I do not see any reason that he should not be made chief. He is a Cameroonian of integrity.  Chief Cho Isaiah has helped many people. He is God chosen and is the caretaker of this quarter. His help to this community is enormous. He is our benefactor in times of joy and trouble. I have never seen anyone as sociable as he is. I am calling on those who might be nursing some feeling of disgust against him to come on board because Christ himself was not accepted and believed by everybody. As of now, Chief Cho is faultless and I would advise him to continue being dynamic, hardworking and sociable.

                   Chief Cho Isaiah Ndi aka Ebibi is a business guru who has lived in Mamfe for decades and has established his business empire here more than any other

Press Release: SDF Secretary General resigns

The National Executive Committee of the SDF received a letter from Prof. Elisabeth Tamanjong, presented by the national Chairman wherein she declares her resignation from her function as the Secretary General of the party.

The National Executive Committee accepts this resignation with immediate effect.

While we thank her for all the work she accompanied during the last nine years since her appointment as Secretary General of the SDF, the National Executive Committee appreciates her will to preserve her membership in the party and wishes her all the best in her political career.

Done in Bamenda on the 14^th February 2015.

Sign

Ni John Fru Ndi

SDF National Chairman

THE PULSE: Yunga Teghen, Former Deputy Minister Laid to Rest ...

THE PULSE: Yunga Teghen, Former Deputy Minister Laid to Rest ...: Benjamin Ngah in Njindom                 One of Momo’s finest Elite, Yunga Tenghen Joseph who passed away on the 8 th of January 201...

Yunga Teghen, Former Deputy Minister Laid to Rest in Njindom

Benjamin Ngah in Njindom

                One of Momo’s finest Elite, Yunga Tenghen Joseph who passed away on the 8^th of January 2015 in Bamenda was finally laid to rest at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Mission Njindom. During a funeral ceremony attended by thousands of mourners including Mayors, Ministers, Senators, Parliamentarians and the Governor of the North West region, Adolph Lele L’Afrique who represented the Head of State, Paul Biya, Archbishop Agapitos Nfon called on mourners to rethink about their earthly deeds. According to him, the wrangling, aggrandizement and the amassing of wealth at the detriment of others are vices because nobody has ever been buried with his wealth. “Times like this,” he said “provides an opportunity for repentance and a rededication of one’s life to God.” He praised the exemplary life Yunga led and his contribution to the Catholic Church in Njindom. While dedicating his soul to the almighty, the Archbishop told mourners not to relent in their prayers and supplications for God to take the Soul of the deceased and preserve it for eternity.

               Speaking on behalf of the central committee of the ruling CPDM Party, Senator Fon Teche Njie describe the fallen hero of Mbengwi as a stalwart of the CPDM and somebody who initiated him into the CPDM. He said, his party and the Secretary General who delegated him regretted the loss and extend heartfelt condolences. He warned all other Fons to stop witch hunting, offer their lives and look up to Jesus for salvation and greater things to come. While personally promising FCFA 1million to the family of the deceased in order that they could use the money to complete the project started by deceased in church, Senator Teche  said he would always be there for the family of someone who nurtured him into politics.

              Other speakers including the wife of deceased painted the picture of a man who was successful in all facets of life. According to many of them, he was a self made man whose life was nothing less than an epic drama. A man they say would be remembered by the people of Njindom and the Meta clan as a selfless developer and as someone who unconditionally rendered  service to whoever needed it; a man who during his life time always told people that, “there was nothing so certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the time of dying.”  

              True to an epic piece of drama, Yunga Teghen rose from a primary school teacher, worked as a diplomat and to the rank of a deputy minister of National Education in charge of basic education. Before his dead and on retirement, he was a catechist in the Njindom Catholic church and took his job very seriously.

              A father of three successful siblings and a grandfather to several grandchildren, Yunga Teghen died at the age of 71.  During the official burial, he was posthumously decorated by the governor of the North West Region, representing the Head of State with a medal of the night of the Cameroon order of merit.