Violence in NW&SW Regions: Cross-Examination of Witnesses Begins

The Yaounde Military Tribunal was on July 27 jammed to capacity as eyewitnesses testified against those held behind bars since January 2017.

Effective trial of some suspects held behind bars since January for alleged involvement in violence in the North West and South West Regions has begun at the Yaounde Military Tribunal. Witnesses were presented in court yesterday July 27, 2017 and they each took turns to edify the huge audience on what they saw and heard, which could serve as incriminating evidences against the suspects who are tried in two groups.

These comprise on one hand, three alleged leaders; Mancho Bibixy alias BBC, Fontem Aforteka’a Neba and Nkongho Felix Agbor alongside 24 others and on the other hand, Penn Terence, Veranso Stephen Vejaimi, Tatah Elvis, Ndzenyuy Elvis and Che Saphyra Lum both accused of either guiding or actually perpetrating acts of terrorism.  In all the cases, the crimes range from complicity in acts of terrorism, hostility against the fatherland, insurrection, group rebellion, incitation of civil war and propagation of false information among others.

When the President of the Military Tribunal, Abega Mbezoa epse Eko Eko, made her way into the courtroom at about 11:42 am yesterday, the suspects, their lawyers, family members and observers had taken up vantage positions with each anxious to hear how the case was to proceed. The anxiety yesterday was further mounted by previous rejections of requests of whatever bail for the suspects formulated by their battery of defence lawyers. Given that the rejections were on grounds that the nature of their crimes, with possibilities of death sentences, did not warrant freedom, many came to hear how grilling was to unfold.

But when the Court Registrar made the roll call to ascertain that all the accused were present, the trial rather took a different twist. The State Prosecutor raised objections on the presence of Barrister Joseph Mbah Ndam on the panel of defence lawyers, stating that as Member of Parliament, the law prohibits him from intervening in any case in which the State or related structure is involved. An objection which ignited heated debate from both sides, with each evoking legal instruments in place. The defence lawyers ...