Zogo Andela accuses the Director-general of the Autonomous Port of Douala, for abuse of office.

The case will be called today at the Court of first instance in Bonanjo-Douala.

The trial will oppose Achille Zogo Andela, Executive Director of the Cameroonian crustaceans company (Camecrus), against Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono, the Director-general of the Autonomous Port of Douala (Pad). Pad boss is accused by the economic operator of abuse of office.

In October 1998, a lease contract was entered into and signed between the national Office of the Ports of Cameroon (currently autonomous Port of Douala) and the Cameroonian society of crustaceans (Camecrus).

The said contract was "renting a bare space by Camecrus from the Douala port". Subsequently, Camecrus Company was faced with financial difficulties to the point where the company could no more honor its rent with Pad.

In line with a memorandum of understanding signed May 18, 2012 with Pad Camecrus subleased its offices and facilities to clear its arrears of rents with Pad. A move which helped this company specialize in fishing and fish products to pay $ 25 million Fcfa by cheque to SCB and the sum of 20 million CFA francs by cheque to Afriland first bank to Pad.

However, according to the indictment, the conflict erupted in 2013, when the company (Sodicam) which sub-rented the space terminated its contract with Camecrus.

"Many corporations have expressed their intention to occupy the premises of Camecrus, like Sodexho and Tradex but they have to be provided the permission to sub-let. Oddly enough, Etoundi Oyono remained indifferent", accused Camecrus.

This situation has led to a first trial, after a complaint of Camecrus against the Pad. In its decision dated March 14, 2014, the judge condemned Pad.

"Regarding the arrangement between the parties with regard to verbal procedures of May 15, 2012, the refusal of the Autonomous Port of Douala to honour all its commitments is hardly justified and is in no doubt not only illicit disorder but a garish assault. We therefore order, given the urgency the cessation of this disorder and the issuance by the defendant (Autonomous Port of Douala) of rent receipts while requiring them to meet contractual commitments", the judge decided.

The Autonomous Port of Douala appealed this decision March 31, 2014, to the Court of appeal in Littoral, Douala. The prosecution considered however that the Pad should execute the decision of the trial judge.

Hence the new procedure brought this time around against Pad and Etoundi Oyono, its Director General, "By refusing to issue the permission to rent the premises and facilities at Camecrus Mr Etoundi Oyono was guilty of abuse of office", indicates the charge.

In this regard, on April 21, 2014, Me Dominique Nicole Fousse, Pad lawyer, sent a correspondence -to the Director general Etoundi Oyono stating, "As a Council for Pad, I think that it is better to find an amicable settlement and finally close the dispute, in the best interest of the parties present”.

Pending the outcome of these judicial proceedings, Achille Zogo Andela, who is languishing in the central prison of Kondengui in Yaoundé for misappropriation of public funds, already claims 500 million CFA francs from Pad as damages and interest "because of the blocking of the activities of Camecrus for a year.