Court throws out Ndedi Eyango’s petition

Soul makossa singer Prince Ndedi Eyango now faces criminal charges for forgery after losing a Supreme Court battle to reverse the invalidation of his election as chairman of the copyrights corporation, Socam.

The Administrative bench of the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that by obtaining US nationality, Eyango was no longer eligible for the office which is open only to Cameroonians.

In so doing, the court upheld an earlier decision by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. Culture minister Ama Tutu Muna acted in the interest of public peace, the respect of the Cameroonian law on nationality and the statutes of SOCAM, the court said.

All of Eyango’s three petitions was deemed inadmissible.

Lawyers of the Minsitry of Arts and Culture said Friday at a news conference that it was an important victory and proved that their client had acted legitimately.

The lawyers said the ruling now opened the way to pursue Eyango, who allegedly forged documents to support his candidature to run for office in Socam, the body that collects and manages musicians’ copyright dues.

Eyango has denied forgery allegations and says he will be returning to court to obtain a full trial. His lawyers said the Administrative Bench of the Supreme Court was not competent to rule on nationality issues.

Eyango was elected chairman of Socam on 2 November 2013 but the ministry of culture cancelled the election on 23 December because of what was termed gross violations of the law.

Last Thursday’s ruling is significant as it creates jurisprudence regarding the accession of Cameroonians who have taken up other nationalities into public offices and roles reserved for nationals.

Many Cameroonians political figures and sportsmen hold other nationalities. The Eyango affair provoked a national and international debate on Cameroon’s nationality laws that were passed in the early sixties but never amended.