Omanghana
Cameroon has been gripped by a new political controversy after a former military intelligence officer accused Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the powerful Secretary-General of the Presidency, of involvement in journalist Martinez Zogo’s killing and an alleged plot against President Paul Biya.
The accusations were made by former army captain Donald Effoudou Awussi, who reportedly served in an intelligence unit attached to the presidential military staff before leaving Cameroon for Europe.
Through a series of interviews and online broadcasts, Effoudou has levelled serious allegations against Ngoh Ngoh and other elements of Cameroon’s security establishment. None of his claims has been proven in court or independently confirmed by a judicial investigation.
Ngoh Ngoh has not publicly responded. His supporters and other critics of Effoudou have dismissed the statements as an unsubstantiated campaign by a former officer facing legal problems in Cameroon.
Former Officer Links Ngoh Ngoh to Martinez Zogo Killing
The most serious accusation concerns the January 2023 abduction and killing of investigative journalist Martinez Zogo.
Zogo disappeared after reportedly seeking help at a police station. His badly mutilated body was found several days later outside Yaoundé, triggering national outrage and international demands for justice.
Effoudou alleges that Zogo was tortured and killed on Ngoh Ngoh’s orders. He has also claimed that powerful officials are attempting to prevent the full circumstances surrounding the killing from being disclosed.
The case is already the subject of proceedings before a military tribunal, with several security officials and businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga implicated in the investigation. No court has established any connection between Ngoh Ngoh and the crime.
Effoudou’s accusation has nevertheless renewed demands from government opponents and civil-society activists for an independent investigation into whether other senior officials played a role.
Alleged Plot Against President Biya
Effoudou has also accused Ngoh Ngoh of involvement in what he described as a “plot against the Republic” and President Biya.
According to the former officer, the controversy began after security personnel detained an armed foreign national identified in local reporting as Mohamadou Sani. The suspect allegedly possessed unauthorised weapons and a military access badge.
Effoudou claims Ngoh Ngoh intervened to secure the individual’s release. He further alleges that his own life was endangered after he raised concerns that the suspect was connected to a plan targeting the country’s leadership.
No evidence publicly released so far has substantiated the alleged coup plot or demonstrated that Ngoh Ngoh ordered the suspect’s release for an unlawful purpose.
Claims Expose Tensions at the Presidency
The former captain also alleges that Ngoh Ngoh privately described Biya as physically weakened and unable to manage the daily responsibilities of government.
Effoudou claims the remarks were made during a conversation involving a French diplomat. He further alleges that the Secretary-General portrayed himself as the official effectively managing the country.
These statements have not been independently verified. However, they have added to longstanding speculation about the concentration of power inside the presidency and the political competition surrounding the eventual succession of Biya, who is 93.
Ngoh Ngoh has served as Secretary-General of the Presidency since 2011 and was elevated to the rank of minister of state in 2019. His position allows him to oversee important government files and communicate presidential instructions to ministries, giving him extensive influence despite not holding elected office.
Effoudou Alleges Parallel Intelligence System
Beyond the accusations against Ngoh Ngoh personally, Effoudou claims that a parallel system operates inside the presidency to intercept and rewrite intelligence reports before they reach Biya.
He has also described the national gendarmerie as a centre of torture and accused senior officials of obstructing peace initiatives intended to end the conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West and South-West regions.
According to Effoudou, confidential peace efforts involving Catholic Church representatives and Swiss and Canadian diplomatic channels were deliberately undermined.
Again, no judicial inquiry has publicly confirmed these claims.
Covid-19 Funds Investigation Returns to Spotlight
The controversy has revived public discussion of the “Covidgate” investigation into Cameroon’s management of funds intended to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2022, investigators sought to question Ngoh Ngoh over the handling of money by government departments under his authority. Reports at the time said judicial authorities issued an order compelling him to appear after he failed to respond to an earlier summons.
The proceedings did not establish publicly that Ngoh Ngoh personally embezzled pandemic funds. However, the episode strengthened perceptions that powerful factions within the government were engaged in a struggle for influence and control.
Calls Grow for Evidence and Independent Investigation
The National Chamber of Criminal Experts of Cameroon has warned that Effoudou has not publicly produced evidence supporting his accusations. It has urged the public and media organizations to distinguish established facts from unverified allegations.
Former military spokesperson Colonel Didier Badjeck has also suggested that the exiled officer may be under the influence of political actors seeking to destabilize the government.
Opposition figures, however, argue that the seriousness of the accusations requires an independent judicial investigation rather than a political dismissal.
The dispute has intensified divisions within Cameroon’s political establishment and renewed scrutiny of decision-making at the Unity Palace. Until evidence is produced and tested through a credible investigation, the allegations remain claims rather than established facts.
Source: Omanghana
