Phnom penh: The Cameroon National Council of Crime Experts (CNCEC) has issued a strongly worded statement rejecting a series of allegations made by former presidential military security officer and investigator Effoudou Awussi Kenneth Romuald during a recent interview. According to Cameroon News Agency, the communiqué dated July 24, 2026, expressed the council's 'deep concern' over the interview in which Effoudou accused several senior state officials, including Minister of State and Secretary-General at the Presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Special Adviser to the President Vice Admiral Joseph Fouda, senior gendarmerie officers, and other public officials. The council criticized the former officer for making serious allegations without publicly providing evidence, describing a state institution as a 'torture centre,' and attributing criminal acts to senior officials without proof. Furthermore, Effoudou's assertion that President Paul Biya's silence amounted to permission to kill was deemed potentially insul ting to the Head of State under Cameroonian law. The CNCEC announced the formation of a multidisciplinary team of legal, technical, and criminology experts to scrutinize the interview's allegations. Preliminary findings suggest that the claims remain unsubstantiated, with ongoing investigations. The council's review of the 'Pat Diamant' affair revealed it originated from complaints reportedly filed with the Territorial Gendarmerie Group and the Central Judicial Research Service by the Observatory of Societal Development (ODS), contradicting some of Effoudou's statements. In a subsequent statement, the CNCEC warned that making grave accusations against state institutions and officials without verifiable evidence could undermine public confidence in national institutions. It reserved the right to pursue legal action against any unlawful attacks on the reputation of individuals or public institutions. The council urged journalists, social media users, and the public to prioritize verified facts over unverifie d allegations and reminded serving and former members of the defence forces of their responsibilities of discipline, loyalty, discretion, and professional confidentiality. It also suggested that Effoudou's public campaign might aim to secure political asylum or prepare an immigration procedure, while investigations continue, with a detailed report to be submitted to the relevant judicial authorities.
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