Cameroon Supreme Court: Orders MTN Danpullo Dispute Cameroon Court Transfer

• Cameroon's Supreme Court ordered the transfer of cases involving MTN Cameroon and Bestinver Cameroun.
• The ruling, dated October 28, 2026, moved proceedings from Douala courts to the South Region.
• Cases from the Wouri High Court will now be heard by the Ntem High Court.
• Cases from the Littoral Court of Appeal were transferred to the South Court of Appeal.
• The Supreme Court, in Ruling No. 01/FCR, found the transfer requests justified and ordered joint liability for court costs.

Lawyers litigating disputes involving multiple jurisdictions in Cameroon should carefully note the Supreme Court's precedent for transferring cases between regions, as this could profoundly influence venue strategy and procedural considerations in future high-profile commercial disputes.

Cameroon's highest judicial body, the Supreme Court, has mandated a significant jurisdictional shift in ongoing legal proceedings involving MTN Cameroon and Bestinver Cameroun, a company with ties to prominent businessman Baba Ahmadou Danpullo. This pivotal decision, issued on October 28, 2026, saw the Supreme Court, convening in a joint session of its chambers, direct two judicial bodies in Douala to cede their authority over the cases. The move effectively transfers the entire MTN Danpullo dispute Cameroon court transfer from its original location.

Specifically, the Wouri High Court and the Littoral Court of Appeal, both situated in Douala, have been ordered to relinquish their jurisdiction. An extract from the court hearing record, dated November 5, 2026, confirms that all matters previously before the Wouri High Court will now be adjudicated by the Ntem High Court. Similarly, cases that were under the purview of the Littoral Court of Appeal have been reassigned to the South Court of Appeal. Both of these newly designated courts are located within Cameroon's South Region, marking a substantial geographical and administrative change for the litigation.

The Cameroon Supreme Court, through its ruling identified as No. 01/FCR, formally endorsed the requests for transfer, declaring them to be fully justified. This definitive pronouncement from the nation's apex court effectively compelled the two Douala-based courts to immediately surrender their jurisdiction over the contentious matters. The decision underscores the Supreme Court's authority to intervene and reassign judicial oversight when deemed appropriate.

In a further procedural directive, the Supreme Court determined that the legal expenses associated with this transfer would be borne jointly by the involved parties. The court document explicitly names MTN Cameroon Limited and Bestinver Cameroun SA as the entities subject to these transfer proceedings. Notably, the legal representatives for both organizations, Me Memong Philippe and Me Njoya, reportedly expressed their agreement with the court's decision, indicating a consensus among the principal litigants regarding the Cameroon Supreme Court case transfer.

This ruling by the Cameroon Supreme Court establishes a significant precedent for the transfer of high-profile cases between different regional jurisdictions within the country. The decision to move the Bestinver Cameroun jurisdiction change from Douala to the South Region, specifically from the Wouri High Court to the Ntem High Court and the Littoral Court of Appeal to the South Court of Appeal, highlights the potential for judicial intervention in determining venue, even for ongoing proceedings. This development is particularly relevant for legal practitioners navigating complex commercial disputes across Cameroon's diverse judicial landscape.

Lawyers litigating disputes involving multiple jurisdictions in Cameroon should carefully note the Supreme Court's precedent for transferring cases between regions, as this could profoundly influence venue strategy and procedural considerations in future high-profile commercial disputes. The ruling underscores that a change in forum remains a distinct possibility, even for cases already well underway, compelling legal teams to factor such potential shifts into their strategic planning and risk assessments. This landmark decision provides a clear illustration of the judicial system's capacity to reallocate cases based on its assessment of justification, impacting how litigants approach multi-jurisdictional claims.

Lawyers litigating disputes involving multiple jurisdictions in Cameroon should note the Supreme Court's precedent for transferring cases between regions, which could influence venue strategy and procedural considerations in future high-profile commercial disputes. This ruling highlights the potential for a change in forum even for ongoing proceedings.

Source: Original reporting via the provided source.