The December 2011 extraordinary session of the National Assembly started on thursday, December 1, 2011.

The government of Cameroon has taken the fight against corruption and embezzlement of public funds to a higher level by tabling a bill in the National Assembly on the creation of a Special Criminal Court and another bill to amend and supplement certain provisions of Law N°. 2006/ 015 of 29 December 2006 on Judicial Organisation. The two bills that express government’s determination to eradicate the corruption and embezzlement scourges in the country, are the main focus of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly that started at the Ngoa-Ekelle Glass Palace yesterday, December 1, 2011.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril chaired the opening plenary sitting of the extraordinary session in the presence of cabinet ministers led by Prime Minister, Philemon Yang. Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril said the two bills tabled for examination and adoption were a response to the high crime wave, banditry, terrorism, massive embezzlement of public funds and high-level corruption. Stating that the embezzlement of public funds and corruption are considered crimes against the nation, the House Speaker, said the adoption of the bills will be Parliament’s contribution to the Head of State’s determination to fight the ills. He said the ultimate goal of all Members of Parliament was to consolidate the State of law in Cameroon.

The First Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Hilarion Etong chaired the second brief plenary sitting that came on the heels of the Chairmen’s Conference. It was dedicated to presenting the two bills in the House. He announced that the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, will defend the bills in the Committee on Constitutional Laws today, December 2, 2011, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Bills

The bill on the creation of the Special Criminal Court specifies that the Court will be specialised in handling the embezzlement of public funds, corruption and other related crimes. Despite all efforts in the domain of ratifying international instruments, sensitisation and the creation of structures and bodies to fight against corruption and embezzlement of public funds, the ills continue to surface in diverse forms. The Court will therefore, be an effective and fast repression measure to make public action against the ills more visible. The bill in Section 3 states that the headquarters of the Court will be in Yaounde.

The bill to amend and supplement certain provisions of Law N°. 2006/015 of 29 December 2006 on Judicial Organisation justifies the creation of the Special Criminal Court. Government in the explanatory statement cites the various organs set up to fight against corruption but says, “ However, the judicial management of cases of misappropriation of public funds and related offences is characterised by slow procedures which cast doubt, in the national and international opinion, on the real commitment of the government to successfully carry out the fight against this scourge”.