After Gendarmerie summons: Ayah Paul accused of sponsoring terrorism, secession.

The accusations are at the front burner of a complaint lodged before investigators at the Gendarmerie Headquarters of the South West region.

The complaint was tabled at the security agency by the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM Member of Parliament for Akwaya, Hon Aka Martin and a one Agwa Linus.

They are accusing Hon Ayah Paul Abine and others including Ayah Douglas and Ayah Oliver of committing acts of terrorism, secession, arson, murder and hostility against the fatherland.

The content of the complaint filed against Ayah Paul and Co was unveiled Friday, January 13, in Buea.

While Ayah Paul was represented by a team of defence lawyers, the two other accused persons appeared in person at the Gendarmerie Legion office in Buea.

In a statement issued at the end of the session, the head of the defence team wrote: “Today the 13th Day of January 2023 at about 11: 30 am, the Lawyers for the defense led by Nicholas Ogbe Keme, PhD, Learned Barrister Ndong Christopher Nveh, Barrister Enow Hilary, Barrister Mbara Stella, Barrister Lyne Tabe and Barrister Tanchi amongst others.  The Suspects are Ayah Paul Abine, Ayah Douglas and Ayah Oliver and others.

The complainants are Hon Aka Martin, Agwa Linus and others. The allegations contained in the complaint are as follows: Acts of terrorism, secession, failure to report, arson, murder, hostility against the fatherland amongst others”.

The statement said “The second and third suspects were present, interrogated and gave rational answers to the questions posed in the presence of their Counsel. They all denied having any knowledge or involvement in the said allegations”.

“The first suspect (Ayah Paul Abine) due to his failing health (currently on wheel chair) could not attend,” the lawyers explained stating that “Besides, due process wasn't followed in summoning him as a Lawyer, thus, the Batonier or his regional representative of the South west wasn't informed as per the organic Law”.

Meanwhile in a similar outing same day, Justice Ayah Paul who challenged Biya at the 2011 presidential election commenting on the summons wrote: “It would be recalled that yesterday, January 12, 2023, Pa Ayah Paul abine, Ayah Douglas and Ayah Oliver were summoned to appear before the Gendarmerie Legion Commander in respect of a rogatory commission...”

He said he has been on a wheelchair for six months running following a serious breakdown in health.

Because of the health condition, the veteran politician said he could not attend to the summons, but two others did.

He said “Just on arrival, they were told that three ‘Ballin’ villages have complained that the three of us do sponsor Amba; and so we have to be investigated individually”.

“That’s where we are at the moment. The other two are there with our lawyers, some of whom, like Barrister Ndong Christopher, have rushed in from Yaounde overnight,” he concluded.

Recall that Gendarmerie authorities in the South West region had last Thursday summoned Ayah Paul Abine who served as Advocate General at the Supreme Court.

The retired senior magistrate turned lawyer who is said to be in bad shape was reportedly summoned Thursday, January 12.

His son, Ayah Ayah Abine confirmed the information Thursday but said the reason behind the summons was sketchy.

It was however not the first time Ayah Paul was being summoned for questioning.

In 2017, the former member of the National Assembly who resigned from the CPDM to join the opposition was arrested in Yaounde in the evening of Saturday, January 21.

He was arrested alongside several others in connection with the Anglophone crisis which began a year earlier.

Justice Ayah Paul who has been a vocal critic of the New Deal regime was reportedly whisked off from his residence at the Tam-Tam Weekend neighbourhood to detention at the Gendarmerie Headquarters.

It was not disclosed then why the former CPDM Member of Parliament for Akwaya Constituency was arrested.

But sources close to the authorities revealed that his arrest was not unconnected to government’s crackdown on Anglophone activists in the country at the time.

Ayah’s arrest came few days after government had banned the Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC, considered a secessionist movement.

Few years before the ban, Ayah was reportedly voted the SCNC National Chair in absentia in Kumba in the South West region.

Ayah began having an arm’s length relationship with the regime when he resigned as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

He later resigned from the CPDM and created his own party known as the People’s Action Party, PAP.

He was one of those who challenged incumbent President Paul Biya in the 2011 Presidential election.

Even though the super-scale Magistrate was appointed the Advocate General of the Supreme Court, he did not tone down his avalanche of criticisms on the regime.

Following his arrest in 2017, Ayah Paul was together with other Anglophone activists later released from jail via a presidential pardon.

He has since taken permanent abode in Buea. Ayah Paul has maintained low profile and has hardly been seen in public.