Why ex-Cameroonian minister was arrested in Nigeria, extradited home

A former Cameroonian Minister of Water and Energy, Mr. Atangana Kouna, was on Thursday arrested in Nigeria and flown back home after he disobeyed President Paul Biya’s order to remain in the country.

Kouna, who was among those dismissed from their ministerial position during Biya’s cabinet reshuffle on March 2, was said to have been ordered in February not to leave the country.

However, according to Reuters report on Friday, police and local sources claimed that Kouna was arrested amidst a crackdown on high-level corruption in the Francophone country.

There have been speculations also that the former Cameroonian Minister of Water and Energy was arrested as part of an anti-corruption drive known as Operation Sparrowhawk.

Earlier in the week, two other persons, a former Ministry of Public Works and the head of a state company; and an ex-rector of the University of Douala, were said to have been arrested as part of the operation.

A police source, who would not want his name mentioned, as he had no such mandate to speak to the press said, “Atangana Kouna is in Cameroon. He was arrested in Nigeria and sent back to Cameroon. He arrived this evening (Thursday),”

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A Cameroon-based private television channel, Vision 4, also reported that Kouna arrived at the international airport in Yaounde at 17:20 GMT on Thursday, escorted by police officers.

According to Reuters, the spokesperson for the Cameroonian government was not immediately reachable for comment, and officials in Nigeria failed to comment on the development.

 

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