Actualités of Thursday, 24 July 2014

Source: The Eye Newspaper

Late Pa Yong's 'will' stirs controversy among family

The Late Bobe Yong Francis was laid to rest on February 1, 2014 in his native Kom village. He died leaving behind an empire properties including the National Polytechnic, Progressive Comprehensive High School Bamenda, Comprehensive High School Bambui, Comprehensive High School Anyajua, Yong Football Club, National Polytechnic Football Club, Abakwa FM, CNTV and others.

The issue is that, the assets and investments he left behind according to what is said is what is almost tearing the family apart. An atmosphere of uncertainty looms as three of the members of the Board of Directors of his estate were detained but have been released.

Now the main bone of contention lies in the manner in which his properties is spread out to beneficiaries in his will. The will doesn’t specify as to who owns what or who manages what; and this may plunge the family into problems.

Lawrencia Nain Yuh according to the will is the administrator of the estates while Yong Charles in vice, Yong Jacque is Secretary, Rose Yong is Financial Secretary while Yuh Michael doubles as treasure in charge of National Polytechnic.

It should be noted that matters arose when the two ladies (Lawrencia-Late Pa Yong’s sister cum administrator) and Rose Yong-Late Pa Yong’s wife) called for a meeting and the communiqué was read over Abakwa FM. Yet the three other members of the Board (Jacque, Michael and Charles) issued a contrary communiqué and it was read over Hot Cocoa and Abakwa.

The meeting as we gathered finally took place but there was no consensus. This is so because the men would not allow the women to lord over them. It is even alleged that the crux of the matter lies in the fact that when Lawrencia returned back from the USA recently, she withdrew money to carryout construction project at Polytechnic.

This according to the allegations was done with the support of Rose Yong. Allegations abound that the three men protested given that nothing was mentioned in the will in relation to the withdrawal of that amount.

It is alleged that even though the three men were arrested, detained and later released on bail, the core reason for arrest still abound. It is even said that suits were filed over the matter. With the tussling, it is feared in Bamenda that this brouhaha could affect the estates. As to whether with these tussles the salaries of workers will be certain remains another puzzle.

For sometimes now, it is even aired that it is thanks to the efforts of Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle that the problems could surface very early. Fears abound that if the crisis continue, the state may likely step in to manage structures like the schools or the tussle may give room for agents of mishap to connive and defraud the estates. However, a news report also revealed that the Kwifon of Kom has summoned the three men to appear before them. It is not yet clear what the Kwifon will say about the matter but hopes abound high that the Fon Yuh of Kom will certainly want issues treated in a clam and serene manner.