Journalist get colleague arrested after allegations of fraud and embezzlement

Ndi Eugene Ndi, Yaounde-based publisher of a not –too-regular newspaper, Newswatch, is currently out of detention on a 300.000FCFA bail after being held in police custody following a decision from the Limbe Magistrate Court, Wednesday, July 31.

The decision was taken after the first day of hearing in a law suit brought before the court by Paul Nkemayang, president of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, CJA-Cameroon, who is also publisher of The Star newspaper.

Nkemayang had sued Ndi for a post the latter posted on CAMASEJ Facebook's page, indicting him and John Mbah Akuroh, Secretary General of the association of embezzling money that was set aside by the association for the celebration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day.

In spite of pleas from Barrister Arrey Collins, counsel for the defendant, the examining Magistrate, Ayuk Esther, decided that Eugene Ndi be detained at the Limbe Central police precinct pending bail as the case was adjourned for August 6. Given that the bail amount couldn't be raised immediately to secure Ndi’s release, he was whisked off in a black police van.

Nkemayang is accusing both the NewsWatch Publisher and Frankline Sone Bayen, Publisher of MediaPeople, a monthly tabloid, of character defamation after the duo published articles which he says indicted him and John Akuroh, Publisher of Times Journal, for allegedly swindling money meant for the 2014 World Press Freedom Day celebration.

Akuroh is also the president of the Cameroon Anglophone Newspapers Publishers’ Association CANPA, one of the main organizers of the 2014 World Press Freedom Day event in Buea.

Outside the court room, over 20 other reporters from Limbe and Buea who had turned out to witness the case proceedings pleaded with Nkemayang and Akuroh for mercy and for the matter to be withdrawn and settled in the journalists’ conclave but Nkemayang reportedly said it was too late, that the damage caused by the publication was devastating.

Amongst the journalists at the court who attempted to plead for a withdrawer of the case were Tarhyang Enowbikah, Editor of The Sun newspaper, who is also current Limbe CAMASEJ chapter President and Constantine Mbom of Spectrum Television, who is treasurer.

Ndi Eugene is Public Relations Officer of the Yaounde Chapter of CAMASEJ.

After the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day in Buea, in which Ndi took part as one of the delegates from CAMASEJ Yaounde, he is reported to have published an elaborate report on the Buea event considered to be critical of the organisers.

The report which was published on Facebook instead of his own newspaper went viral and became a subject of debate. Below is a portion of the report as published by Ndi.

“WPFD Celebration in Buea as I saw it (I)-By Ndi Eugene Ndi

It was much trumpeted that for the first time, four journalism associations; CUJ, CAMASEJ, CANPA and CJA had agreed to jointly commemorate the World Press Freedom Day in Buea on May 3, 2014.

As one who actively took part in the Buea come together, I think it wasn’t actually four associations but two; CANPA and CJA. The other two were ‘absent’ from Buea.

For CAMASEJ, even members who came from Yaounde and Bamenda did not see their president, Tricia Oben, who was one of the signatories to the release announcing the event. Her key address was read by Rosaline Obah, a member of CAMASEJ Bamenda, who presented Tricia’s apologies for being unavoidably absent.

For CUJ, the president, Charly Ndichia was present and even contributed greatly through his presentation and experience in the profession. But his role according to the way I saw, ended at that level…

The presidents of CANPA and CJA were at the fore of the organization. They worked hard before and during the occasion to make sure it was successful.

But many left the Buea Parliamentarian Flats Hotel with the impression that these two presidents were just using the day to fill their private pockets.

John Mbah Akuroh, President of CANPA announced at the event that support came in from the Former Premier now Senator and President of the disciplinary committee of the CPDM, Mola Peter Mafany Musonge, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Philip Ngole Ngwese, the General Manager of PAMOL, the President of the electoral board of ELECAM,……without stating what they gave as support.

Nkemanyang Paul, President of CJA said Supermont also supported the organization with drinks; water and juice which all could not be consumed. He did not mention any financial support; though the water and juice were accompanied by an envelope.

The acting regional delegate of Communication for the Southwest talked of support from a cable distribution network (without stating the nature of support)…”