Yaounde: Anti-Biya activist, Ramon Cota, transferred to Kondengui prison.

Known by his social media name as Ramon Cota, the activist was arrested in Libreville, Gabon, where he was based before being deported to Cameroon in mid-July this year.

He was being held in detention at the State Secretariat for Defence, SED, before he was placed on provisional detention at the Kondengui Prison at the close of last week.

He was transferred to the Kondengui Prison following a ruling passed by the investigating judge at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, Captain Ignace Eyebe Etoundi.

Reacting to his transfer, his lawyer, Hippolyte Meli, in an outing on his social media page, stated that: “He has left the military barracks, where he was held by soldiers, to be transferred to the custody of the prison administration”.

Cota’s transfer, the lawyer said, marks a significant development in the legal battle, which has gained widespread attention both in Cameroon and abroad. He decried that his client was arbitrary extradited and spent 76 days in illegal detention before he was formerly charged.

In an audio message shared by his lawyer, Cota could be heard denying all charges levelled against him. He equally used the opportunity to reassure his supporters that his resolve remains unshaken.

“I guarantee that I will always represent the voice of the voiceless and stand firm as the guardian of future generations’ rights,” the detainee stated. 

The activist is said to have a range of serious charges against him, including revolutionary conspiracy, promoting secession, illegal acquisition of war weapons, insulting state institutions, and failure to present a national identity card. 

These accusations are said to place him at the heart of some of the most sensitive issues in the country. According to the military judge’s order, Steve Akam’s provisional detention is set to end on April 9, 2025. 

However, there is a possibility of an extension, depending on the progress of the investigation.

The lawyer noted that if convicted, his client could face severe penalties under the country’s stringent laws against rebellion and acts considered threatening to the state.

Known for his critical and outspoken videos where he is seen denouncing the Biya regime on social media, Cota gained notoriety, with many seeing him as a fearless advocate for democratic change and human rights. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3260 of Tuesday October 15, 2024