Mbonge Mayor warned to stop corrupt civil status registration

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Chief Daniel Matta Mokambe

The Mayor of Mbonge council, Chief Daniel Matta Mokambe and the council clerk, Maria Goretti Mobia Mofa have been warned to stop any corrupt practices and to apply only the law in the issuance of civil status documents. The President of Kumba Court of First Instance, Justice Mengalle Vivian fired the warning while conducting the oath-taking ceremony of the mayor and the civil status clerk on 26 September at the Kumba High Court.

                Presiding over the ceremony, Justice Mengalle Vivian cautioned the mayor and clerk to carryout proper investigations before issuing birth, death and marriage certificates. She said wrong declarations of birth or death is a crime punishable by a fine ranging as from 2000frs to 25000frs as well as a three-month prison sentence.

She told the mayor to make sure that all civil status documents (birth, death and marriage certificates) be issued in triplicate as required by the law.

                On his part, the State council for Meme division, magistrate Affah Emmanueal Anah drew the attention of the Mayor and clerk to section 7(1) of law no 81/02 on the 29 of June 1981 bearing on the organization of civil status registration and the various provisions relating to civil status officials as amended and supplemented by law no 2011/011 of 6th May 2011. He added that according to section 15 of the 1981 ordinance, civil status registrars are empowered by president of the court of first instance, while section 18 provides that all civil status registers shall be forwarded to the competent state counsel within 15 days to the 31st of December each year for cross-checking and endorsement. 

                Reacting to the instructions from the men of law, Mayor Daniel Mokambe promised to go back and read through all the laid down laws and regulations that sanction the exercise of his duties. He said he would not allow his position as chief to enter into the exercise of his duties as mayor.

                Chief Daniel Matta Mokambe was born on 1stJuly 1971 at Mbonge Marumba, Mbonge sub division. He holds a degree in biology from the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria and a Diploma in Computer programming from the same University. He was formerly an estate manager at the CDC.