Japoma-Bakoko Land Case: Supreme Court Annuls Nearly 700 Land Titles

In a major legal development regarding land tenure in the Littoral Region, an official public notice signed by the Land Registrar of Wouri "B", Véronique Laure Ngo Bayha, has formally announced the wholesale cancellation of Land Title No. 34535/W along with its subsequent derivative titles and sub-divisions. Approximately 700 land titles (including the primary master titles and all their secondary sub-divisions/démembrements) are affected by the Supreme Court ruling.

Master Titles, Derivative Subdivisions

The decision specifically nullifies two master titles: No. 34535/W (originally granted on April 1, 2005, to the Japoma-Bakoko Village Community) and its consequential title No. 37711/W. And over 690 derivative sub-divisions. The extensive list of parcel numbers, parenthetical titles, and sub-divided property deeds (WB and W series) are explicitly enumerated across the official notice.

Ruling Of June 4, 2025

The sweeping cancellation stems from a definitive ruling by the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court of Cameroon. According to the notice, the Supreme Court issued Judgment No. 079/P/FD/2025 on June 4, 2025, which was subsequently authenticated on August 17, 2026, and transmitted via official correspondence from the Court’s Chief Registrar. The execution of the judgment was formally authorized by the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure through correspondence dated July 22, 2025.

Littoral Administrative Tribunal Ruling Overturned

The Supreme Court’s decision overturned Judgment No. 370/FD/2020, rendered on December 17, 2020, by the Littoral Administrative Tribunal in Douala. That earlier tribunal judgment had interpreted a preceding 2018 ruling (Judgment No. 351/FD/18 of November 22, 2018) which originally cancelled Land Title No. 34535/W. It was established on April 1, 2005, for the benefit of the Village Community of Japoma-Bakoko, r...