CONAC probes Fako land palaver

The Fako land saga has taken another twist as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC) entered into Fako Division last week to carry out investigations on alleged land-grabbing by some local administrators, land tenure officials and traditional rulers.

The CONAC outing to Fako Division, The Sun learnt is on the high instructions of the Prime Minister and Head of government, Philemon Yang.

Though details of the CONAC fact-finding mission to Buea and Limbe remain sketchy, dependable sources have informed The Sun that top administrative officials of the region, some members of the Fako administration, a number of chiefs and municipal authorities (names and positions withheld) were grilled.

Some officials in the State Property and Land Tenure delegation have also been quizzed regarding the management of land surrendered to the community by the state.

Over half a dozen chiefs in Fako Division are said to have answered questions from the CONAC team.

Given that CONAC is only at the level of preliminary investigations, those grilled were given the opportunity to present their own side of the story to the anti-corruption body.

William Ngomba, Chief of Bongala village was reportedly grilled for several hours by the CONAC team and was later remanded in custody at the Limbe Gendarmerie.

Dependable sources say about 50 hectares of land were ceded to Bongala Village. Even before the official documents were signed by the minister to authorise the land surrender to the community, The Sun learnt that Chief Ngomba, with the backing of some members of the local administration, sold about 25 hectares of the said land even before the official documents were signed by the minister.

The land is alleged to have been sold to an expatriate real estate company.

As we went to press on Sunday night, we could only confirm that Chief Ngomba had been released.

The Sun also got that the top notch of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) passed before the CONAC team.

His submissions to CONAC have been described by observers as crucial, given that the whole issue of land surrenders in Fako revolve around the CDC.

The new turn of events in what is now considered the ‘Fako Land Saga’ has led to a duel between chiefs, the administration and members of the civil society.

The chiefs accuse Christopher Tambe Tiku, Secretary of the South West Office of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms for continuously calling for violence, genocide and secession under the pretext of Fako lands.

The chiefs fell short of mentioning the name of Barrister Ikome Ngongi who, together with others, has recently been very vocal on the fight against the continuing illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands.

The chiefs in the release used unfriendly words to describe those they say are claiming to be fighting against the continuing illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands.

They hold that Tambe Tiku, Ikome Ngongi and all those fighting against the supposed illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands are hungry, frustrated and envious.

Their words: “Contrary to these nepotic declarations emanating from these irresponsible individuals that are even threatening to drag the non-indigenous people who have been allocated lands by the traditional rulers as a sign of national integration to court, we the traditional rulers of Fako do call on all these stakeholders to be steadfast and continue to help in the development of our division. They should consider these agitations as mere signs of frustration, envy and hunger.”

Speaking to The Sun in a telephone interview, Christopher Tambe Tiku, Secretary of the South West Office of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms described the attitude of the chiefs as a show of ignorance.

Speaking on CRTV Buea Press Club, Saturday, July 12, Tambe Tiku they briefed the Prime Minister on “the callous and atrocious manner in which land grabbing is taking place in Fako.”

The Sun learnt that Tambe Tiku and Ikome Ngongi had a meetings, Friday, July 18, in Yaounde with the Prime Minister and Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure.

Quizzed on the outcome of the meetings, Tambe Tiku hinted that the Minister has put an end to land surrenders in Fako and in the days ahead, all Divisional Delegates of Lands, both past and present will be expected to render an account of all surrendered lands and the beneficiaries.

“We have also been mandated to supply to the minister the names of all those who are involved in the illegal sale of surrendered land in Fako,” Tambe Tiku hinted The Sun.

Though no official has come out to comment on the recent CONAC mission to Fako, it is clear that it is as a result of the meetings Tambe Tiku and Ikome Ngongi held with the Prime Minister and the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure. The mission is also not unconnected to the petition Fako chiefs forwarded to the Presidency of the Republic and the Prime Minister.