Cameroon Crime Experts’ Body Pushes Back Against Explosive Allegations by Former Presidential Security Officer
By Wilson Musa
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.
In the communiqué dated July 24, 2026, the council said it was “deeply concerned” by the interview in which Effoudou made accusations against 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 accused the former officer of making serious allegations without publicly providing evidence to support his claims. It also criticized him for describing a state institution as a “torture centre” and for attributing criminal acts to senior officials without proof.
The statement further took issue with Effoudou’s assertion that President Paul Biya’s silence amounted to permission to kill, arguing that such remarks could constitute an insult to the Head of State under Cameroonian law.
The CNCEC announced that it has established a multidisciplinary team of legal, technical and criminology experts to examine the allegations made during the interview. It said preliminary findings indicate that the claims remain unsubstantiated and that investigations are continuing.
The council also disclosed that its review of the “Pat Diamant” affair found the matter originated from complaints reportedly filed with the Territorial Gendarmerie Group and the Central Judicial Research Service by the Observatory of Societal Development (ODS). It added that information gathered during its inquiry appears to contradict some of Effoudou’s statements, while stressing that it is for the competent authorities to determine the legal implications.
In a second statement, the CNCEC warned that publicly making grave accusations against state institutions and officials without presenting verifiable evidence risks undermining public confidence in national institutions. It said the organization reserves the right to pursue legal action against any unlawful attacks on the reputation of individuals or public institutions.
The council further urged journalists, social media users and the public to prioritize verified facts over unverified allegations and reminded serving and former members of the defence forces of their obligations of discipline, loyalty, discretion and professional confidentiality.
It also suggested that Effoudou’s public campaign “appears to conceal an unsuccessful attempt to obtain political asylum or prepare an immigration procedure,” while indicating that its investigations will continue and a detailed report will be submitted to the relevant judicial authorities.
The statement comes a day after Effoudou made a series of allegations during a widely circulated interview as he revealed that he escaped to Europe. As of the time of publication, Effoudou Awussi Kenneth Romuald has not publicly responded to the CNCEC’s statement.
