MTN Cameroon has achieved a significant win in the Central African nation after the Littoral Court of Appeal in Douala lifted a garnishee order that had been placed on the telco’s bank accounts by the Bestinver group of companies.
The country’s largest telecom operator announced on Tuesday evening that the court unanimously decided on 24 February that the Bestinver group of companies was not entitled to impose the garnishee orders, which had been in effect since September 2022. MTN Cameroon received its final order in March 2025.
MTN Cameroon said it welcomes the decision “affirming the legitimacy of its defence and restoring its rights.”
For nearly three years, MTN had been unable to access its bank accounts, which held over $23 million, due to a matter unrelated to the telecom provider. MTN and its banking partners had been served with a garnishee order at the request of business tycoon Ahmadou Baba Danpullo, who owns Bestinver companies and has strong government connections.
According to a publication by Itweb.Africa, the issue stems from an ongoing case in the South African High Court involving Danpullo’s South African company, Bestinver Holdings, and First National Bank. In that matter, FNB—owed R507 million by Danpullo’s companies—filed applications to wind up the companies. On 19 June 2020, the companies were placed in provisional business rescue, and the order was finalized on 26 October 2020.
Danpullo responded by alleging discrimination, claiming that his real estate portfolio, reportedly valued at R4 billion, was liquidated to cover the R507 million owed to the bank. FNB refuted this allegation, stating that the move was a standard business decision aimed at recouping the monies owed.
Subsequently, Danpullo sought legal recourse in his home country, obtaining garnishee orders against MTN accounts. He argued that MTN is a subsidiary of the Public Investment Corporation, which he claims is also a shareholder in FNB. At the time, Africa’s largest telecoms provider stated: “MTN Cameroon firmly contests the garnishment of its bank accounts, that it considers as abusive, fraudulent and unacceptable, given that MTN Cameroon has no relation whatsoever with either Bestinver group of companies, Mr Danpullo or the said South African bank.” The telco emphasized that neither FNB nor the Public Investment Corporation are shareholders of MTN Cameroon.
Then CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi remarked: “We see the seizure of MTN Cameroon’s accounts as abusive and nothing more than an attempt to access funds that legitimately belong to us.”
Following its court victory over Bestinver, MTN Cameroon celebrated by saying: “We are grateful to our customers and partners for their trust during this process, assuring them our commitment to creating shared value.”
MTN Group has already allocated $225 million to enhance its operations in Cameroon. Group CEO Ralph Mupita announced this investment in August last year during a meeting with Cameroon’s prime minister Joseph Dion Ngute and his delegation on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
MTN also expressed its interest in investing in future technologies, such as 5G, and reaffirmed its commitment to improving rural connectivity to ensure fairer access across the country.
