Martinez Zogo affair: Case suffers another adjournment over unresolved appeals.

The late Martinez Zogo still to get justice two years on

The trial of suspects in the murder of Amplitude Radio animator, Martinez Zogo, has suffered another adjournment at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, owing to unresolved issues at the Appeal Court of the Centre Region.

Hearing on Monday, January 13, lasted less than 30 minutes. The matter was again adjourned to February 3, sparking mixed reactions from counsels of parties in the case.

While the matter could not progress as judges continue to wait for rulings on appeals at the higher court, the prosecution is also said to be preparing another appeal.

When the case came up last November 11, 2024, the prosecution had claimed there were irregularities in the preliminary investigations and other issues around the matter.

The Yaounde Military Tribunal is also said to be still preparing its response to the concern of the civil party. Parties involved are hoping that when the suspects returned to court for the next hearing, there would have been some considerable progress.

With counsels of the civil party are still considering another appeal, lawyers of the suspects during the last hearing expressed misgivings. They claimed that they prosecution is deliberately engaging in delay tactics to ensure the suspects remain behind bars.

Lawyer of Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe, former Operations Director at the Directorate General of External Research, DGRE, Barrister Jacques Mbuy, questioned the intention of the civil party to have justice.

Barrister Mbuy told reporters that it is the right of his client to be judged likewise that of the family of late Martinez Zogo to have justice but decried the several adjournments.

He lamented that it is almost two years since the suspects were arrested and detained coupled with multiple adjournments. “It's almost two months later that the civil party decided to appeal when they could have done so much earlier. They want them to remain in prison,” Barister Mbuy remarked.

Lawyers for the prosecution on their part shared a different opinion. One of them, Barrister Jean Pierre Manyim, questioned what he said is the defense being in a haste. He said they are ready to work with the pace and rhythm of the court to ensure justice prevails.

Another prosecution lawyer, Barrister Calvin Djob, told the press on the outskirts of the Yaounde Military Tribunal that the concerns are a show of weakness and lack of arguments. He insisted on the need for the law and procedure to be respected.

There are also reports that lawyers representing the Directorate General of External Research have also tabled an appeal. They are said to be uncomfortable with the military tribunal’s dismissal of their objections. The DGRE counsels are said to be contesting the reconstitution of charges against some of the 12 intelligence agents implicated in the murder of Martinez Zogo.

To note that at least 17 persons are in detention in relation to the murder of Martinez Zogo. Among them are 12 officers from the DGRE, former Counter Intelligence Service boss, Commissioner Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, and Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe. 

There is also billionaire businessman, Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga. He too has been in detention in relation to the same matter. The matter began in court since March 2024 but till date, hearings on the substantive issue have not commenced.

To recall that the radio animator went missing in Yaounde on January 17, 2023. His corpse was found four days later in a terrible state on the outskirts of the capital city around Soa. 

His killing prompted national and international condemnation with President Biya promising to ensure those responsible for his murder are punished. 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3340 of Thursday January 16, 2025

 

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