Yaounde: 14 families still awaiting justice 14 years after houses demolished.

The legal suit is being heard at the Yaounde Court of First Instance. It has suffered several hiccups since the case was lodged in 2010. 

The verdict of the case is expected to be delivered Friday July 19, after it suffered an umpteenth adjournment last June 21. 

The defendant, Jean Pierre Folefack, is being prosecuted for trespassing, destruction and disturbance with Ebode Tsanga, Biloa Agnès, Anaba Mvogo and others as victims. 

Speaking to the press shortly after the case was last adjourned, the lawyers of the victims regretted the numerous postponements.

“We had hoped that the long-awaited verdict was going to be given on 21 June after 14 years of trial. We don't know what's going on with this case. 14 years without a verdict, while all the victims of the break-ins are dying, is a mystery,” one of the victims’ lawyers told journalists.

From our findings, the matter was last adjourned due to the absence of the prosecuting magistrate. 

“It is a feeling of frustration that drives me because this is the third time that deliberations have been postponed. We have been before this court on this case since 2010. Our clients are seeking justice, and it is regrettable to see that the case has not yet been finally disposed of,” the counsel added. 

As the case continue to suffer multiple adjournments, The Guardian Post gathered that three family heads of the 14 affected families have died without being rendered justice.

The said members reportedly died as a result of stress and anger following the destruction of their landed properties. 

The deceased, after the demolition of their houses, reports hold, were compelled to live in precarious conditions which worsened due to prolonged and financially exhausting legal battle.

The lawyers had further insinuated that the stalemate in the case is linked, among other issues, to the multiple appointments of presiding magistrates. 

“When a magistrate who is handling the case is changed, the new one comes and starts the case again from scratch. The other reason is that the accused tries to use certain tricks to block the case. Sometimes his lawyers say he’s ill, sometimes he changes lawyers himself,” the victims’ lawyer had further regretted.

damages worth over 100 million FCFA 

The demolition of houses at the Emana neighbourhood in Yaounde I subdivision, took place on February 12, 2010. 

On that day, while some of the victims were going about their daily activities, the accused individual, accompanied by the police and a bailiff, is said to have descended to the Emana neighbourhood to demolish the houses. 

Folefack is reported to have then claimed that the residents were illegally occupying his land. He also said to have argued then that he was acting on the basis of a decision rendered by the Centre Court of Appeal.

The houses and all their contents on an area covering over 3,000 m2 had been destroyed. 

According to complainants, the land title brandished by the accused specified that land in questioned was undeveloped. This was said to be contrary to what was on the ground given that the land had been occupied by people for years.

Few days after demolition, the accused is said to have been arrested and remanded in custody at Kondengui Central Prison. 

However, the accused was released from prison few months later under what complainants said were unclear circumstances.

At the time of the incident, material damage was estimated at over 100 million FCFA by the victims.

One of the victims, is said to have recounting his traumatic experience after the destruction of his home. The victim, we gathered, said he could not get even a pin from his house.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3172 of Thursday July 18, 2024