Anglophone Crisis:

Over 70 lawyers storm military court to defend Balla& Co.

Battery of defense lawyers at Yaoundé Military Tribunal

A battery of over 70 prominent lawyers; both Anglophones and Francophones, Monday stormed the Yaoundé Military Tribunal for the first hearing of the case between the People of Cameroon versus the President of the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, Barrister Nkongho Felix AgborBalla, his Secretary General, Dr. FontemAforteka’aNeba as well as radio announcer, ManchoBibixy.

                However, as earlier reported by local media, the case was adjourned to Monday February 13, 2017.

                No concrete reasons were advanced for the adjournment, but The Median learned the case was postponed on grounds that the court officials were busy with preparations to pay last respect to some of their army colleagues who died in a recent helicopter crash.

                Going by a notice posted on the notice board of the Yaoundé Military Tribunal, announcing the adjournment, the accused are charged with inciting hostilities against the state, committing acts of terrorism, calling for the secession of North West and South West Regions from the nation of Cameroon, insurrection, taking part in the propagation of false information, amongst others.

                Legal experts say by virtue of the law on terrorism recently passed by Parliament, most of these offences carry the death penalty.

                Barrister Bernard Muna, said though they were aware that the case will not hold, they however came to court to make sure that the news of adjournment to February 13 was not a farce.

                Muna, the lead counsel of the accused, told reporters that the procedure used to adjourn the case was faulty.

BBC Correspondent Arrested

                Meanwhile, BBC’s correspondent in Cameroon, Randy Joe Sa’ah was arrested outside the court room of the Military Tribunal.

                Ndi Eugene Ndi, a reporter for Kenya-based Africa Review, confirmed the arrest, saying that the BBC correspondent was arrested while defense counsels were briefing reporters.

                Ndi quoted the soldier, who whisked off Randy while he was recording with BBC gadgets, as saying that only the state broadcaster, CRTV, was authorized to take sounds and images within the court precincts.

                Pictures and recordings collected at the scene by reporters using smart mobile phones were all deleted on instructions of the Military Tribunal officials. All other reporters were then allowed to go, except for Randy, Barrister Ndong Christopher disclosed.

                Randy was taken to the SED and later released. His work tools were confiscated.