The first hearing in the trial pitting the State of Cameroon and the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF) against Ambella Bridget, took place at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde on Wednesday June 24, 2015.

 Ambella Bridet Jeffrey, former Director of the defunct FAMM Cameroon Non-governmental Organisation, is accused of embezzling FCFA 1,386,230,559 belonging to the NSIF between June 1, 2002 and August 31, 2006. According to the Examining Magistrate’s Committal Order, the amount was meant for workers retirement contributions to NSIF, but was never paid in.

The sitting before a panel of judges led by Mr. Justice Nina Galina, assisted by Mrs. Justice Djessi Ndine eps Zibi, with Omam Fils as Advocate General, began with the verification of the prosecution and defence counsel, but both of them were absent. Advocate General Omam Fils then requested the court to give time for the prosecution to prepare the list of witnesses. The presiding judge consequently adjourned the matter to July 5, 2015 for the designation of a proper trial team and presentation of the list of witnesses by the prosecution.