GLENCORE scandal: SNH expresses readiness to expose accomplices.

The Executive General Manager of SNH, Adolphe Moudiki, made the announcement in a release issued on Friday August 2. 
In the statement, Moudiki said the company will cooperate with competent national and international institutions while also defending its core values.

He disclosed that SNH staff facing accusations of wrongdoing and those of GLENCORE have been identified. 

According to the Moudiki-signed release, the concerned will appear before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, United Kingdom on 10 September 2024

The SNH Executive General Manager wrote that the fresh “information, which has just been disclosed, is an important milestone in uncovering the facts of this scabrous affair”. 

Another disclosure in the Moudiki release is that related to concurrent domestic investigations ongoing. 

He further disclosed that on November 6, 2023, SNH had lodged a complaint at the Special Criminal Court, SCC, “to determine the Cameroonian accomplices in the corruption”.

With the date now known for suspects to stand trial in London, Moudiki in his statement declared that “SNH is optimistic that the outcome of the proceedings in London will expedite the Special Criminal Court investigations”. 

Besides committing to ensure those concerned stand trial, the Executive General Manager insisted that SNH is attached to upholding its core values.

Moudiki talked of “the corporation’s unwavering commitment to ethical conduct and transparency, as its core principles”. 

He assured that SNH will ensure “both national and international communities will be kept abreast of any new developments in this affair in due time”.

SNH’s communication marks a new twist in the scandal which has come to be known as the GLENCORE affair. In 2022, the British subsidiary of GLECORE, pleaded guilty to seven counts of bribery relating to crude oil dealings. It has to do with countries such as; Cameroon, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea. 

Across these countries, GLENCORE admitted having paid money to the tune of 28 million US dollars to influence access to oil which earned it illicit profit.

In Cameroon, the company had also admitted that it paid bribes to the tune of 11 million US dollars (approximately 7 billion FCFA) to officials at the National Oil Refining Company, SONARA and the SNH. This is said to be between 2011 and 2016.

Akere Muna steps up pressure

Meanwhile, global anti-corruption lawyer, Akere Muna, who has been on the matter for years, has in reaction to the development urged Cameroonians in Britain to join voices is pressing for the names of those involved to be disclosed.

In a statement on his X formerly Twitter handle on Friday Akere Muna among other things questioned if “…the English courts reveal the identities of the corrupt Cameroonians?” but stated that: “We will find out in September. As details of the operations are disclosed in court, clues to the identities of the Cameroonian individuals involved will likely emerge”. 

Akere Muna urged “Cameroonians in the UK to join me in organizing a peaceful march to present a petition to the UK Attorney General, requesting the disclosure of the names of the corrupt individuals”.

Despite the international action ongoing in London, Akere Muna is also pushing for local judicial action to name and shame those involved in the scandal. 

Among other issues surrounding the matter, GLECOUR officials are believed to have flown hard currency in private jets from Nigeria to Cameroon to bribe officials of SNH and SONARA.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3190 of August 05, 2024