Li timbireh la fo’o, a Fako-based indigenous Native Association, has issued a 7-day ultimatum, asking for a public apology, for defamatory statements made against the late Sango Henry Njalla Quan.
According to them, the defamatory statements held that the late Sango Henry Njalla Quan was an embezzler, a thief who died of a brain tumour, and that he was not a Cameroonian by nationality.
The allegations were made public in a release signed in July 2023, by Dr. Mkamwah of the Nkamwah Limen Law Firm, stating they were made by a yet-to-be-identified person.
“Almost in tears, our client showed these electronic messages you sent to him wherein you alleged that his late father was not of Cameroonian nationality and further threatened to exhume his corpse from Limbe to bury in Ghana, which you claimed was his country of origin,” the press release stated.
It is equally reported that the said person alleged on social media, that the “late Sango Henry Njalla Quan was an embezzler, a thief who died of a brain tumour following investigations by the state for allegedly stealing state funds, and someone who raised his children with “stolen money,” stated a message widely shared in WhatsApp forums,” the release continued.
Reacting to these, Li timbireh la fo’o, noted that the accusations are “inhumane, false, derogatory, and defamatory.”
In a release made public yesterday, August 23, 2023, Li timbireh la fo’o, stated, “Our attention has been drawn to despicable comments and insults, profaning the memory of an illustrious son of Limbe, Fako Division, and the Republic of Cameroon, the late Sango Henry Njalla Quan.”
They went further to question why other sons and daughters of Fako, who were privy to this derogatory information, did not react in defence of the late man’s honour.
“What baffles us is that most of these comments were made in the South West FECAFOOT WhatsApp forum, which has a huge number of Fako sons and daughters as well as elites who, to our greatest surprise, never condemned these statements, preferring to stay mute!” They went on.
The Association went on to give seven days to the authors of the said allegations to present, “proof of the late Sango Henry Njalla Quan being an embezzler of state funds by presenting the court judgement condemning him for stealing state funds as well as a medical report attesting he died of a brain tumour.”
They have equally requested that they provide his “Ghanian birth certificate” or any other document attesting to his “Ghanaian nationality”.
In the absence of the above-mentioned, the authors will be expected to tender public apologies through the same medium through which they disseminated the information.
“Failure to which our association shall take necessary steps required for traditional and cultural rites and manifestations to be engaged against the concerned persons in order to cleanse the image of our icon, late Sango Henry Njalla Quan,” The association concluded.
Background
A few weeks ago, Henry Njalla Quan Junior, son of the former Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) General Manager, the late Henry Njalla Quan, was involved in a squabble with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
The squabble resulted in his suspension from the executive committee of the Federation and later his resignation from the post of fourth vice president of Fecafoot.
However, during the tussle, some yet-to-be-identified persons disseminated some claims vis-à-vis the father of the former Fecafoot executive, the late Henry Njalla Quan.
Due to the gravity of these allegations, he decided to seek legal help in dealing with them.
It is now not clear whether Li timbireh la fo’o’s ultimatum is in conjunction with the legal proceedings being instigated by the Nkamwah Limen Law Firm. As such, it is unclear whether the public apology demanded by the Native Association, would signal an end to the issue.
Who was Sango Henry Njalla Quan?
Born on March 3, 1949, the son of Sarah Asimueni Martins of the Manga William family, Bona Billa in Bimbia, and Shotade Bennett, he could be seen some evenings sitting down around Half-Mile Junction, sharing a drink with the people, discussing OPOPO, Njalla Quan Sports Academy, and his vision for Limbe.
Limbe still feels the presence of his humility, simplicity, managerial savvy, and love for his hometown and people, since he passed away on December 12, 2012.
Henry Njalla Quan made a grand entrance into Limbe in 1996, revolutionising the approach to municipal management and development as the pioneer Government Delegate to the town’s Urban Council. Henri Njalla Quan, later serving as General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), made his positive impact felt in most sectors of city life. He renamed the CDC Banana as “Makossa Banana” in international markets and established new plantations in Manyu, Donga Mantung, Matouke, Iloani, and even in Ebolowa.
He organised so many cultural and sporting events that Limbe became a town to reckon with. He revived Victoria United, also known as OPOPO, and he brought spectators back to the Centenary Stadium. Great musicians stormed the Community Field and performed crowd-pulling concerts. “Mbonjo Boy” often mounted the podium to accompany them on the piano.
Njalla Quan, known as ‘Big Brother’ to the people of Limbe, had a heart as big as his hands. He generously gave assistance to those who sought it, provided jobs to a multitude, and changed lives. Popular speculation placed him as the first choice to head the Limbe Deep Sea Port when it came into being, given his background at the Douala Port Authority.
