Alleged Perpetrators of Violence in NW&SW Regions : Fate Of ‘Leaders’ To be Decided

The State Prosecutor presented liberation conditions at the Military Tribunal on May 24.

Fontem Aforteka’a Neba, Lecturer at the University of Buea and Nkongho Felix Agbor, Eminent Lawyer who have both been held behind bars for some months now for allegedly fuelling violence in the North West and South West Regions will on June 7, 2017 know whether or no they could return home and the conditions for such a release.   The State Prosecutor has objected their bail as requested by the defence counsel on grounds that the nature of their alleged crimes, with possibilities of death sentences, do not warrant bail. However, they can be let loose on judicial supervision with strong sureties that they would be in court each time they are needed.
In one of the hearings at the Military Tribunal on May 24, a trio of State Prosecutors led by Nzie Pierrot Narcisse presented submissions on the request of the defence lawyers to free the two alleged leaders alongside 25 others jointly tried for similar crimes. The State Prosecutors each took turns to present legal arguments on why the 25 others could not be released and the conditions under which Fontem Aforteka’a Neba and Nkongho Felix Agbor could be released if the presiding judge, Abega Mbezoa epse Eko Eko, President of the Military Tribunal so desires. They subscribed to the view of the defence counsel that the two are men of substance, have served the State and international community in several capacities as well as have identifiable jobs and locations where they could be sought when need be. But they qualified as light, the argument for the release of the other 25 detainees tried alongside the duo.
In the last but one hearing on April 27, 2017, the defence lawyers put up a heated argument on the calibre of the people being detained, notably Fontem Aforteka’a Neba and Nkongho Felix Agbor. Th...