The financial controversy rocking the Zhoa Council in Menchum Division has taken a new turn following the suspension of both the Municipal Treasurer and a Finance Clerk over alleged financial irregularities uncovered during a government audit.
The suspensions come weeks after a public dispute between the council's Mayor, Njah Titus Ndongkeh, and Municipal Treasurer, Eric Doh Motia, over the handling of council revenues, particularly building permit fees. At the time, the treasurer had alleged that some payments made by the population were not reflected in the official treasury accounts, while the mayor strongly denied any wrongdoing and insisted that all financial transactions were conducted in accordance with established procedures.
According to official documents from the Ministry of Finance dated July 24, 2026, an audit mission from the Directorate General of Treasury, Financial and Monetary Cooperation reviewed the financial and accounting operations of the council following complaints and earlier inspection reports.
One of the letters, signed by the Principal Treasury Inspector, orders the suspension of Finance Clerk Umarou Mahamadou for an initial period of three months.
The document accuses the official of aiding repeated fraudulent financial reporting by helping conceal expenditure records to cover cash shortages. He is also alleged to have deliberately hidden accounting documents required for the audit, failed to report significant financial irregularities and provided misleading information to inspectors during the investigation.
The Ministry said the alleged actions posed a serious threat to public funds and the integrity of government accounting systems, warranting his immediate suspension pending further disciplinary or possible criminal proceedings.
In a separate correspondence addressed to the Governor of the North West Region, the Treasury Paymaster General disclosed that Municipal Treasurer Eric Doh Motia had also been suspended after audit teams reportedly established a series of financial and accounting irregularities in the management of the Zhoa Council treasury.
The document further proposes the appointment of Yong Christain Ngong, a Senior Contract Officer currently serving as Head of Service for Regional and Local Authorities, as interim Municipal Treasurer pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.
The latest developments follow an audit mission ordered by the Directorate General of Treasury after concerns were raised over the council's financial management. The investigation reportedly formed part of continuous monitoring of public accounting and financial risk management within local councils.
The suspensions mark a significant escalation of a dispute that first entered the public domain in early July when Treasurer Eric Doh Motia publicly warned the population against making building permit payments through unofficial channels. He maintained that all council revenues should pass through the State Treasury and alleged that some payments had not reached official accounts.
Mayor Njah Titus Ndongkeh rejected the allegations at the time, saying he had remained committed to transparency and development since assuming office. While denying any improper collection of council revenue, he maintained that his administration had respected legal financial procedures and invited the public to judge his record in office.
The audit findings have now shifted attention from the earlier exchange of accusations to the management of the council's finances, with the Ministry of Finance stepping in through disciplinary measures against key accounting personnel.
It remains unclear whether further sanctions or prosecutions will follow as the audit process continues. Authorities have also not indicated whether additional council officials could be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Zhoa Council has yet to issue an official statement on the suspension of the two officials. Likewise, the suspended Municipal Treasurer and Finance Clerk had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the Ministry of Finance's documents at the time of publication.
The case is expected to renew debate over transparency, accountability and financial governance within Cameroon's local councils, where the management of public funds has increasingly come under public scrutiny.
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