Eric Tataw arrested in US!.

Eric Tataw, though a journalist who left Cameroon for the US, became prominent, thanks to his role in the ongoing crisis in the two Anglophone Regions.

He was popularly known and hailed as “Garri Master,” by his peers of the separatist movement, because of his social media video outings, during which he called on separatist fighters to chop off the hands and fingers of especially workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, who dared went to work.

It should be recalled that agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, had, late last year, stormed Tataw Eric’s Maryland residence. They grilled him for over six hours in connection to his role in the atrocities committed by separatist fighters in the North West and South West Regions. 

However, his recent arrest, according to a detailed affidavit related to investigations, is linked to 163,000 dollars (over 90 million FCFA) which Tataw received from the American government.

Going by documents related to his legal troubles, copies of which The Guardian Post stumbled on, Tataw had provided false information to get the money. 

The separatist kingpin of the “Garri Master” fame within the context of the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions, is expected to appear in court Friday September 8, 2023. 

This is according to an order of “temporary detention, pending hearing pursuant to Bail Reform Act”. Judge, David Copperthite, signed the order dated September 1.

Meanwhile, an affidavit, bearing the name and seal of United States, Homeland security agent, Kyle Zraggen and Magistrates Judge David Coppertthite, argued in support of a criminal complaint and the arrest warrant issued against the defendant.

Deceptively cashed in on US COVID-19 business support?

The bone of contention that may land Eric Tataw in jail for decades, is not unconnected to the Paycheck Protection Program, PPP. 

The United States government instituted PPP in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable companies maintain their work force.

The affidavit relating to his case recounted that Tataw received 163,000 United States dollars (approximately over 90 million FCFA), in two installments between 2020 and 2021.

He is being indicted on the bases of a detailed witness report that he provided false information, relating to his company, National Telegraph LCC, to receive the money. Tataw is facing charges of wire fraud and witness tampering among others. 

The diehard separatist activist is said to have provided fake information on the number of employees his company has and their earnings. 

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