After 15-year jail term: Former SCDP boss, Nguini Effa, "graduates" from prison.

Images emerged of the petrochemical engineer yesterday in the company of prison officials and some family members. The amateur clip is believed to be the last moment before the erstwhile high profile civil servant left the Kondengui Prison facility for his residence.

Prior to his release Wednesday, Nguini Effa had spent years battling a 30-year jail term the Wouri Court of First Instance had slammed him in October 2012. 

He had been arrested in August 2009 alongside some of his collaborators for allegedly embezzling public funds to the tune of 2.2 billion FCFA. The Special Criminal Court, SCC, re-examined the case and on June 17, 2022, his sentence was reduced to15 years.

As at the date of the ruling, Nguini Effa had spent 13 years behind bars. That meant he had just two more years to complete the 15-year term. His release is said to be in line with the ruling of 2022. Biya had appointed Nguini Effa on March 21, 1994, to the post of Director General of SCDP. At that time, Nguini Effa was barely 39 years old.

Having succeeded Nguea Lottin, who had died at the helm of the corporation, Nguini Effa served for 15 years until his arrest on August 26, 2009. The holder of the Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, in Petrochemical Engineering had served in other high public offices before his appointment as SCDP Director General.

He was recruited into the public service in 1984 as a staff in the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the then University of Yaounde.

Before then, he had had a stint at the then Ministry of Mines, Water Resources and Energy in 1983, serving at the Sub Directorate of Hydrocarbons. He also worked as Associate Researcher at the Energy Research Laboratory of the Institute of Geological and Mining Research.

In 1988, he was made head of the Training and Internship Division of the then Ministry of Civil Service and State Control. At that time, he is said to have had an influence in the training of students at the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, and the Higher Institute of Public Management. 

Nguini Effa later became Director of Scholarship, Planning and Professional Guidance in the Ministry of Higher Education. He was again raised to the position of Secretary General in the then Ministry of Mines, Water Resources and Energy in 1992. 

His rise in the public service is said to be credited to the late Prof Joseph Owona. He was born on May 15, 1955. He studied mostly in France. It is reported that he lost his parents, key friends and other relatives while serving his 15 years jail term.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3214 of Friday August 30, 2024