Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared that over 24.000 prisoners will benefit from the Presidential clemency by President Paul Biya. In a briefing with the Press, communication Minister confirmed that former SG at the Presidency of the Republic Titus Edzoa has been set free alongside French citizen Thierry Atangana. According to classified sources Thierry Atangana was spotted at the French Embassy while Titus Edzoa returned his residence in Yaounde. It should be recalled that the two individuals were accused of siphoning a billion FCFA which was deposited in an account which they were co-signatories.
A school of thought holds that Cameroon government had succumbed to pressure from France and the UN to release Thierry Atangana and Titus Edzoa. Yet President Biya while inaugurating the Reunification monument in Buea declared that the clemency was part of government efforts to give a multi-dimension feast to the celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of reunification. Questions have been raised about the plight of other state officials who were arrested and detained within the framework of operation sparrow hawk. The lawyers of Gerard Odong Ndong, Zachs Forjindam, Munchipou, Chief Inoni and other high profile personalities napped for embezzlement are reportedly analyzing the text to see how and where their clients would benefit as well. It should be noted that the anti-corruption drive in Cameroon has been criticized as a state machinery aimed at pinning down those who nursed political ambitions against the Biya regime. Others say it is more to settle scores and not pick white-collar gangsters.
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