Ebong Ngolle Summoned to Court in SONARA Case

The President of the Limbe Court of First Instance, Magistrate Theophilus Tatsi, who is hearing the case pitting Charles Metouck and two others versus the People of Cameroon, has ordered the State Counsel of Limbe to summon the Board Chairman of the National Oil Refinery (SONARA), John Ebong Ngolle, to appear before the court on Thursday 4 April, 2013, to explain the controversial document titled 'A qui de droit', which he purportedly signed, authorising the ex-General Manager to gain access into his former office.

The hearing of the case that has suffered several adjournments recommenced on Monday, 1 April 2013, following the Appeal Court's rejection of the recusal of the presiding judge tendered by Charles Metouck, the principal accused. Four other prosecuting witnesses testified in court on Monday. Mr. Metoube, a commercial agent in the Commercial Division of SONARA told the court that he was instructed by his hierarchy to substitute the name of Talba Malla (current GM) with that of Charles Metouck on a document titled "Payment undertaking".

Mrs. Ngo Apak who works at the GM's private secretariat told the court that Charles Metouck came to the office on the 18 of February about 9am and asked her alongside the GM's secretary, Mme Kinge, to arrange documents scattered in his office in preparation of the technical handing over on Wednesday, 20 February 2013. She said after the exercise, she retired to her office where Edinguelle Edinguelle Jean Joul (2nd accused) asked her to type a document titled "A qui de droit" which he dictated to her and asked her to put the date of 15 February, 2013. Mme Kinge, on her part, revealed that his former boss requested an extra shredder in his office that Monday morning which she did.

Senior Police Superintendent, Ntoh Denis who heads the 'Control of Services' (Police de Police) in the South West Region, said he and his colleagues were stationed at the main entrance of SONARA where they intercepted two documents that were all tendered in court.

Ntoh also hinted that Ebong Ngolle's police statements states that he authorised Charles Metouck to enter into the office of the GM only on the 20 February and not from the 18-21 as stated by the document 'A qui de droit'. Ebong Ngolle, he went on, filed a complaint against Edinguelle Edinguelle for forgery that was also submitted as exhibit. The learned State Counsel, Eni James Mokube was thus instructed by the presiding judge to summon the Board Chairman of SONARA as a prosecuting witness to appear in court on the 4th of April 2013. The Board chairman is also expected to bring to court the by-laws and Status of SONARA.