Ecobank Affair - Prosecution Concludes Allegations

The 5 military and 8 civilians in custody are accused of murder, gang robbery with firearms, looting and disrespect of military honours.

After long hours of waiting from the previous day, the courtroom of the Douala Military Court was unusually full on Tuesday June 11. It was exactly 11h40 when the presiding Magistrate, Colonel Neih Kometa and his accessories made their way into the courtroom. After the adjournment of other cases, it was time to proceed with the hearing of the Ecobank Affair. For over two hours, the courtroom was heated by an argument between the Magistrate, the civil inquiry and the defence. When Colonel Neih Kometa requested the reading of the verbal deposition of some prosecution witnesses who could not appear in court, the demand was categorically rejected by the defence counsel, led by Barrister Ashu. Quoting Article 336 of the penal code which provides that the verbal depositions obtained during judicial proceedings could only be read in case of dead, short notice (48hours), excessive cost of displacement fee or the impossibility of reaching the concerned. The defence argued that none of these conditions had been met to justify the witnesses' absence before the court.

In his concluding statements, the Government Commissioner, Ndjouwée Anatole presented the state's claims against the accused. He produced a telephone call listing obtained from Orange Cameroon; a copy of the declarations made by the accused during judicial proceedings; and an information sheet which was used to identify and later nab them that the court retained as exhibits. However, a manuscript claimed to be one of the accused, Ndoumbe Aristide's handwriting, containing confessions was rejected after he refuted it.

Thus, Ndeke Nestor (Military), Ndoumbe Aristide (Civilian), Dieukumo Atieduko (Civilian), Oundi Assamba (Military), Igiehon Churchill (Civilian), Ngwayi Cosmas (Military), Fanka Emmanuel (Civilian), Wirkon Dominique (Civilian), Wanlebele Joseph (Military), Ticky Mbappe (Military) and Obih Simeon (Civilian) are accused of co-action of murder, gang robbery with firearms, looting, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Meanwhile, the five military officials were further accused of spying and bad conduct (prejudicial to military honours). The lone female, Etonde Guysso who was working in the bank is accused of complicity by serving as informant. The next hearing is scheduled for June 24, whereby the defence will launch the hearing of the accused alongside their witnesses.