Yves Michel Fotso's son arrested and later released in Douala

Michael Fotso, son of Yves Michel Fotso was recently in police custody and later released after a complaint was made by the interim administrator of the CBC against the Ekita group company of which Yves Michel Fotso is a shareholder.

On June 1st gendrarmes of the research brigade arrived at the headquarters of the Ekita group company belonging to Yves Michel Fotso (who is currently in prison).

None of the people in charge were present. Gendarmes requested access to the technical office where the plumbing installations were.

Michael Fotso, Assistant Director General opposed to the decision arguing that he did not receive permission from his superiors to allow their access. Upon this refusal, he was taken to the Bonanjo Research Brigade where he was taken into custody for four hours and then released moments before his lawyer, Me Danielle Andegue arrived.

The CBC headquarters are located in a building at Bonanjo in Douala owned by Ekita group. He decided to suspend the supply of water following the rent arrears (2, 2 billion CFA francs) owed by the tenants of the CBC.

A decision that led to the complaint by Cbc against Ekita group who revealed that there has been a battle over the ownership of the building in question since May 19, 2015.

According to Ekita group, “the building was purchased in 1998 from the liquidation of the Meridien Biao bank, and the acquisition process was completed in December 2005 with the transfer of 730 million CFA francs under the order of High Court of Douala”.

On December 13, 2005 following the transaction, the President of the High Court of Douala issued an order in which he stated: “We authorize M. Soppo Paul Alphonse co-liquidator of Meridien Biao to receive a payment of 730 million Fcfa representing the inclusive payment of amounts that Sci Kent (which became Ekita group) still owes the Meridien Biao liquidation as concluded in the building sales acts number 1575”.

However on May 13, 2015, a formal notice was sent to CBC based on the liquidation of the Biao. It was stated in the notice that the Biao property depends on the eminence of the new owner of the building housing the headquarters of the CBC.

A document by Njanga Njoh the administrator of the CBC communicated to the Ekita group stated that “This situation forces us to remind you of our multiple interventions concerning the appointment of the head of Ekita group as an administrator full filling all the good governance criteria and being able to protect the heritage of this company which is under crisis”.

The case is currently pending before the public prosecutor at the Tribunal de première instance de Douala.