Former Tubah Mayor freed at last, but jurists speculate charges

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Mayor Sofa enjoying freedom with 

his kith and kin after his release

The erstwhile SDF Mayor of Tubah Council, Sofa Stanislaus, alongside a council engineer, Chick Jeh Emmanuel, both of whom had been in detention at the Bamenda central prison for allegedly swindling council funds, have been acquitted.

                The duo arrested on 4 November 2014, were released on 27 October 2015 after the court dropped all the charges leveled against.

                Stanislaus Sofa was accused of embezzling building permit levies amounting to over FCFA 46 million during his tenure as mayor. He was also said to have swindled FCFA 26 million which he claimed was used to transfer furniture from the former council building to the new chambers.

                On the count of building permit levies, Chief Justice Mbaki Vivian noted that the audit was not properly conducted and was unprofessional. As regards the FCFA 26 million used to transfer furniture from the former council base to the new chambers, we gathered that the plaintiff could not prove beyond reasonable doubt; with vouchers, that the money had been embezzled.

                The joy was total in Bambui, Stanislaus’ native town, as thousands came out in their numbers to give a heroic welcome to the freed mayor. Conspicuously present were militants of the Social Democratic Front, SDF.

                Addressing the press after his release, Stanislaus Sofa was overwhelmed with joy. 

                “The office of mayor is not compatible to that of council treasurer, so I had no access to the money I am accused of embezzling. Justice has been done. From the kind of home-coming I have received, it is clear my population had me in very high esteem. You saw how traffic was spontaneously halted,” he said, stating that it is still too early to talk about his next political move. “I needed first my freedom, and I have got it.”  

                Despite Sofa’s acquittal, a jurist told reporters that he may not have regain total freedom as fresh charges could still be brought against him.

                Meanwhile, after a council session last week, the incumbent mayor of Tubah, Tanjong Martin told reporters he suspected foul play in the trial based on the fact that each time the case came up in court, SDF vanguards and Sofa’s friends were always present in court in their numbers.

                “Sofa has sent me several SMS messages saying that I should pray that he is not released because if he succeeds to come out of detention my life will be in danger,” Tanjong disclosed.