Court Slams FCFA 16.4 Million On Mayor

By Olive Ejang Tebug

The Meme High Court recently slammed FCFA 16.4 million against Prince Ebako Mutanga, Mayor of Mbonge Council.Prince Ebako's Campaign Manager, Francis Sheme Eseme, dragged him to court for termination of contract and refusal to pay his FCFA 10 million. The Mayor is said to have borrowed the money for his campaign in 2002.

Sheme testified before the High Court in Kumba that during campaigns for the 2002 Municipal elections, one Agbor Ndip introduced him to Prince Ebako, saying he (Sheme) could make a good campaign manager.

Sheme said he proposed to lend Ebako FCFA 10 million for his campaign when the latter complained he did not have money. He said Ebako accepted the offer and promised to repay the money if he won the election.

A Deal Done

On July18, 2002 Sheme and Prince Ebako entered an agreement which read thus: "I, Prince Ebako Mutanga, leader of the CPDM list for the Mbonge Council, have received the sum of FCFA 10 million from Francis Sheme Eseme for the purpose of my election, which will be paid back to him if I succeed to win the position of Mayor in the Council.

The said money will be paid in two instalments." He said Ebako's father, Chief Richard Nganya Mutanga, as the lone witness, also signed the agreement.Besides, Sheme added that Ebako promised to award him some contracts from the Council.

He said when Ebako won the election, he granted him (Sheme) two contracts; the first for the collection of tollgate proceeds within Mbonge municipality and the second, for the maintenance of roads within the municipality.

Sheme testified that they started well but along the line, they had a misunderstanding, and Ebako cancelled the first contract after about six months of execution. He said he got angry and asked for his FCFA 10 million from Ebako who refused to pay up. He said it was at this juncture that he decided to file a civil suit against the Mayor to retrieve his money.

But Prince Ebako argued that Sheme was an errand boy to the former SDO for Meme, Charles Makoge Ivo. He contended that Sheme came to him when there was a stalemate amongst the three contestants on the CPDM list and explained that Makoge had sent him because he (Sheme) has the powers to appoint a Mayor when there is a stalemate.

The Mayor said Sheme proposed to lend him FCFA 10 million, which he accepted since he was desperate to become Mayor. Surprisingly, Ebako said, instead of an appointment, there was an election, which he won. According to him, Sheme's action was an act of deceit. He urged the court to reject Sheme's claims.

Judgment

Handing down the judgment, Justice Abenego Bia Kalla, said from evidence before the court, it was clear Sheme lent FCFA 10 million to Prince Ebako. He said the fact that the Mayor never invalidated the agreement of the loan as deceitful is clear evidence against him.

The judge held that failure by Ebako to bring his father to defend him in court is ample evidence that he is hiding the truth, because his father was a witness in the loan agreement of July 18, 2002.

The court ordered the Mayor to pay Sheme FCFA 10 million, and interest FCFA 6 million. Ebako was also ordered to pay FCFA 400,000 as cost for proceedings. According to the order, the Mayor would pay the FCFA 10 million, irrespective of any appeal on the matter.

Ebako and his lawyer, Barrister Andy Tabi, filed an appeal at the Meme High Court that same day. Barrister Philip Awutah Atubah held brief for Sheme.

Comments

[nene]

Thereis a lot of stealing and dishonesty going on in Camerron. How can someoone take money sign a contract and pulls out of the contract in a nonchalant way it is scary. The mayor is a thief. he should go to jail. This kind of street way of life should not be tolerated. Please slam this mayor in jail. what a rogue!