Operation Sparrow Hawk brings SDO behind bars

The Divisional Officer for Bangante, installed just three weeks ago is now languishing at the Kongdengui maximum prison for allegedly involving in the embezzlement of FCFA 4 billion, money meant for Indemnities of the people of Kribi, following the Kribi deep sea port project.

Bangante is in total consternation as the former First assistant SDO for Ocean and Wouri Division, Joseph Andre Eyebe Eyebe, has now joined his former boss, Mvilong Jean Francois Mvilong, who was former SDO for Ocean, now on retirement. Among the detained is also BESSALA Jean Hurbert, former DO of Kribi, now at Ministry of Territorial Administration, some top officials at the ministry of Agriculture, Land tenure.

The name of former Secretary General at the presidency of The Republic, now at Kondengui, Marafa Hamidou Yaya and Gervais Mendo ZE, former CRTV General Manager were cited by CONAC in 2011 as possible protagonists in the swindling of FCFA 4 billion.

It is reported that the SDO ,DO and other top officials worked together to divert some of the money disbursed by the state to pay indemnities to displaced population whose houses and properties as well as land were used for the Kribi Deep Sea Port project. It is alleged that some ghost land owners were given huge sums of money in complicity with local administration.

The arrest and pre-trial detention of EYEBE EYEBE Andre, new DO for Bangante sub division of NDE Division, is shocking and unprecedented since the launch of operation Sparrow hawk. Till date only former ministers and people who managed public budget have been sent to prison, the act three of this operation with imprisonment of sitting administrative representative is an indication that CONAC means business.

The whistle blower of this massive arrest is former SG at Prime minister’s office, the present minister of Economy and durable development, Louis Paul MOTAZE, who is coordinator of the Kribi Deep Sea Port project.