NW House of Chiefs: Former president arm-twisted to hand over ‘confiscated’ car!.

The development came a day after the Bambalang traditional ruler had reluctantly surrendered the service car, which had confiscated for over a month after being voted out of office. Though the former House of Chiefs President didn’t show up at the Regional Assembly complex on Wednesday, the car was however handed over to the authorities by his driver. 

Having issued several letters urging Fon Yakum to formally hand over the keys to his former office, the door of the office was forced opened last Thursday, by bailiffs acting at the instance of regional authorities. 

How it all started…

Prior to last Thursday’s action by bailiffs, on the instructions of regional authorities, the President of the North West Regional Assembly, Prof Fru Angwafo III, had through his Secretary General, publicly disclosed that the ex-House of Chiefs boss, had declined handing over the official car as well as the keys to his former office. 

The scandal emerged over a month after a new President of the North West House of Chiefs was elected into office. The election, which ended Fon Yakum’s reign, was organised on December 16, 2025.

Fon Amidu Nji of Nkambe, who succeeded Fon Yakum, was subsequently denied access to his office and official car. 

According the Regional Assembly top executive, Fon Amidu Nji had been loitering around the corridors of the structure without a working space and official car.

The North West Regional, had in a letter, dated January 15, 2016, and signed by the Secretary General of structure, Yerima Peter, formally invited Fon Yakum Kevin Teuvih, to a ceremony for the official handing over of the service car and keys to the office of President of North West House Chiefs. 

But Fon Yakum, without any justification, stayed away from the ceremony. He didn’t immediately explain reasons for his boycott of the important event.

In the letter, the Regional Assembly wrote: “…following the elections of the Regional Executive Council, that took place on 16th December 2025, where a new executive for the second mandate 2025-2030, was voted into office, and cognisant of Section 280 (2) of Law No2019/024 of 24 December 2019, to institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, wherein your mandate ended same date, I have the honour to inform you that the technical handing over of service between the incoming and outgoing Vice President/Regional Executive Council, shall take place on Wednesday 21st January 2016, at 10:00am, in your office”.

The Secretary General of the Regional Assembly had explained that: “This exercise shall include among others, your role as holder of records stock, signed from the Stores Accountant and the service car CA 8492 Prado vehicle, attributed to you through decision No: 2023/00000133/NWRA/SG/DGA of 10th April, 2023”.

In a follow up letter, dated January 23, 2026, the Regional Assembly reminded Fon Yakum that: “The handing over that was scheduled for Wednesday 21st January 2026, was aborted because of your absence and this has indescribable consequences on the smooth functioning of the Regional Executive Council”.

They stated that the incoming Vice President, who doubles as President House of Chiefs, and took the oath of service on January 7, 2026, has been unable to have access to his office “and loitering in the corridors of the House, because of your unattainability to hand over the office keys and the materials in your keeping”.

Sanctions may follow…

In the letter to Fon Yakum, authorities of the North West Regional Assembly didn’t hide their frustration over the state of affairs.

The President of the Regional body had through his scribe, warned the Bambalang traditional ruler to do the needful, within three days or face the consequences.

The body was blunt that:“…failure to which administrative and disciplinary sanctions shall be taken in line with Articles 88 (2), 92, 93 and 94 of Decree No: 94/199 of October 7th, 1994, establishing the General Statute of the State Civil Service; amended and supplemented by Decree No.2000/287 of October 12, 2000, and Decree No.2000/685/PM of September 13, 2000; bearing on the organisation and operationalisation of the Permanent Disciplinary Council of the Civil Service and establishing the rules of disciplinary procedure”.

Fon Yakum justifies…

Meanwhile, in a reply to the President of the North West Regional Executive Council, titled: “Request for the payment of my allowances…and reimbursement towards the repairs of Landcruiser Prado,” Fon Yakum explained that his decision not to retain the official car and keys to the office, are intentional.

The civil administrator-turned monarch, was categorical that the car will only be retained upon the reimbursement of funds he personally coughed out of his pocket to maintain the public automobile. 

He told the Regional President that: “…I have been using this abovementioned car since 2nd of June 2023…I have incurred expenses on the car as seen on the copies of receipt presented below”.

The traditional ruler continued that: “I have the honour to kindly appeal to you as vote holder of the North West Regional Assembly, to cause the settlement of these bills as fast as possible”.

“I know you have good memories of the past where I was kept in captivity for close to two years. This incident cost me all my privileges and benefits within the executive council. I deserve the right to seek for legal redress…if not resolve on time…,” he threatened.

Even though Fon Yakum’s letter, in which he demanded immediate reimbursement for expenditure on the official car, did not carry the exact amount he is laying claims to, a senior official at the North West Regional Assembly, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian Post that the Bambalang king is demanding over five million FCFA!

He added that the Regional body finds both the claim and the amount embarrassing, especially given that “…the Assembly, at the close of its mandate, had paid out the sum of one million FCFA, to each executive member to cover for any expenses on the cars in their keeping.” 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3691 of Monday February 02, 2026