‘Smart cop’ detained for assault

A former Police Officer, David Chifu, has been cooling his feet since Monday, March 24, at the Nkambe Prison for failing to appear before

the Nkambe Magistrates’ Court.

The Councillor of Nkambe Council cum lecturer at the Catholic University of Bamenda, CATUC, was expected to answer charges of assault he reportedly meted on Mrs. Mary Mbelle Awudu some time in August last year. But he thought he was smart, invincible and reportedly

kept a safe distance from the long arm of the law. This wasn’t to last for ever though!

After adjourning the matter several times and putting the court in darkness as to the whereabouts of Chifu, a bench warrant was issued for him to be arrested and presented before the court. The President of the Court, Magistrate Dieudonne Nfonsam Mbepson, therefore, requested the assistance of the Bamenda Judicial Police to fish out Chifu from the Catholic University last Monday as he showed up to start teaching. He was whisked off to Nkambe Police Post just for the night and the next day he was remanded in prison awaiting trial that has been fixed for Wednesday, April 2.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, March 26, one of the lawyers for the accused, Barrister Mohamadou Koyo, holding brief for Barrister Emmanuel

Yembe, pressed hard that Chifu should be released on bail in vain.

The court turned down the application on grounds that Chifu could jump bail if he is let out of prison walls.

It should be recalled that prior to campaigns, precisely on August 18, 2013, in Wat Village in Nkambe Central Subdivision, the CPDM party

organised a rally during which a fight erupted as to who was to occupy the Council grandstand in the market.

In the course of the misunderstanding, Chifu is said to have assaulted Mrs. Mary Awudu and she sustained injuries on the face and arms.

The market master was also injured. That is how Mrs. Awudu dragged Chifu to court.

When the lawyer for Mrs. Awudu, Barrister Oliver Ngwang, was contacted, he declined to talk.