The erstwhile GM of SONARA testified on February 18, 2013, stating that he acted out of good professional conscience.

The law suit pitting the People of Cameroon against Charles Metouck (Former SONARA General Manager), Jean Jules Edinguelle Edinguelle and Ngale Mouelle Noe continued on Thursday, April 4, at the Court of First Instance Limbe with the first accused testifying for more than five hours. Charles Metouck gave his testimony beginning from February 15, 2013 when he was deposed and his successor installed.

Metouck argued that the handing over note was signed between the outgoing and the incoming General Manager without a practical handing over. “We were then conscious of the need of a real handing over so we [the Board Chairman, the New GM and Charles Metouck] agreed to hold a meeting on the 20^th of February for a real handing over,” Metouck explained.

According to the accused, his presence in the General Manager’s office after his dismissal was to prepare for the technical handing over and to inform the new GM on the ongoing projects at the refinery. He justified that his presence was backed by a tripartite agreement between him, the Board Chairman and the new GM. An agreement, which the new GM, Ibrahim Talba Malla denounced when he testified in court some weeks ago.

On the issue of documents, he signed and backdated as SONARA GM on Monday 18 February 2013, Charles Metouck told the court that the ‘Payment Undertaking’ to Sahara Energy was just a promissory note in accordance with Article 8 of their contract. He said it was already getting late and that if the document was not signed ten days before, Sahara Energy would not have supplied crude to SONARA, thus the company would have halted production. Metouck further indicated that if SONARA stops production, the Refinery loses about FCFA 1 billion per day and needs a minimum of ten days to restart production. Consequently, he added, there would have been acute shortage of fuel throughout the country. “It is true I signed these documents when I was no more the GM of SONARA but it was my professional conscience. After being convinced by my collaborator (3^rd accused), I signed the document for the necessity of SONARA and the whole country,” Metouck stated in a cross examination carried out by the Limbe State Counsel, Magistrate James Eni Mokube.

He also revealed that he had no document titled “A qui de droit” allegedly signed by the Board chairman, John Ebong Ngolle authorising him to gain access into his former office. Although the Board Chairman of SONARA, John Ebong Ngolle, who purportedly signed the authorisation for Metouck, appeared in Court on request of the Judge, he however did not testify due to time factor. The matter was adjourned to Monday April 8, 2013 while the three accused were remanded in prison custody.