The State Attorney and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife vs IFEANYI OGUEJIOFOR Vincent, ADAMU Ibrahim, UPAH Macmillan, and AKENJI Ebenezer AJEKO

Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Douala
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2019
Abstract

In November 2017 at "Bois de Singes" neighbourhood in Douala, a truck carrying suspicious bags and driven by UPAH Macmillan on the request of ADAMU Ibrahim, was arrested by elements of the Regional Control Brigade. After searching the bags, they unraveled 1050 kg of pangolin scales, 250 kg of ivory tusks, 124 heads of African grey parrots and 1393 African grey parrot feathers . It was IFEANYI OGUEJIOFOR Vincent who received these bags containing all the trophies seized from a certain OBINNA in Nigeria, and he gave them to ADAMU Ibrahim, who called on UPAH Macmillan to transport them while AKENJI Ebenezer EJEKO had to do the accounting work during loading of the truck. At the close of interrogations, they were transmitted before the State Attorney for prosecution.

Language of document
French
Reference number
No. 2986/FD/COR
Charges
Illegal possession and circulation of trophies of totally protected animals species within the national territory and complicity.
Transnational
Yes
Decision
IFEANYI OGUEJIOFOR Vincent and ADAMU Ibrahim were found guilty of illegal possession and circulation of trophies of totally protected animals species within the national territory. UPAH Macmillan and AKENJI Ebenezer AJEKO were found guilty of complicity in the illegal possession and circulation of trophies of totally protected animals species within the national territory.
Appealed
No
Penalty
They were sentenced to six (06) months suspended imprisonment term within three (3) years, to pay 1.000.000 XAF jointly for fine. They were also sentenced to pay 35.850 XAF jointly for costs and 10.000.000 XAF jointly as civil damages to the state of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.
Legislation cited
Law No. 94-01 of 20th January 1994 to lay down forestry, fisheries and wildlife regulations, secs. 78,98, 101, 155, 158
Penal Code, sec. 74, 97