Culled from Info 360
The Audit Bench of the Supreme Court of Cameroon has decided to postpone its verdict in the case involving four senior officials from the Ministry of Public Health accused of financial misconduct. Initially scheduled for April 16, 2025, the decision has been pushed back to April 30 (Today).
The case concerns the controversial management of a 278 million FCFA contract within the funds allocated to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Four officials are at the heart of this financial scandal:
– Élysée Amour II Eyenga Ndjomo, Technical Advisor No. 1 at the Ministry of Health
– Ousmane Diaby, Head of the Division of Studies and Projects
– Rémy Bekolo Edou, Accountant-Material at the Minister’s Office
– Abiba Ntue Ngapout, Paymaster at the Specialized Treasury Pay Office at the Ministry
During previous hearings, Attorney General Félix Owona Etoundi had called for particularly severe sanctions against the accused, including:
– A ban on holding any position of responsibility in the public service for 10 years
– A ban on assuming ordaining functions for a period of 5 years
– An individual fine of 2 million FCFA for each of the accused
This case is part of the broader audit of Covid-19 funds in Cameroon, which has revealed several instances of mismanagement and alleged embezzlement. The Ministry of Public Health is particularly targeted by these investigations, as evidenced by this case examined by the Audit Bench.
Observers of Cameroonian public life are eagerly awaiting the final verdict, which could set a precedent in the fight against the embezzlement of public funds, especially those allocated to emergency situations like the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two-week postponement will allow the judges to examine the case’s elements more thoroughly before delivering their final decision.
