Visit to Kondengui:

Agbor Balla vows to fight for Mancho BBC’s release

The leader of the Coffin Revolution, Mancho Bibixy, is still in detention

The leader of the outlawed Consortium of Anglophone Civil Societies, Consortium for short, has said he would not go to sleep until all those detained in connection to the Anglophone crisis are released.

                Barrister Nkongho Felix AgborBalla made the solemn pledge in a post on his facebook page, after a visit to Yaounde last week.

                Balla during his rather charged itinerary in Yaounde, paid a visit to the 10 Anglophones detained at the Prison Principale and the 27 others kept in the Prison Centrale, both in Kondengui, Yaounde.

                Whilst with the detainees, Balla assured them he would not allow himself to go to sleep whilst they remained in jail. He promised to use every means available to him to secure their release.

                The Median learned that the emblematic leader of what is now known as the coffin revolution, ManchoBibixy, almost burst into tears when he saw Balla. He reportedly ran up to the Consortium President and embraced him warmly, before urging him to do everything to make sure he and the other detainees regain their freedom. Balla assured Mancho he would do just that.

                “I came here to visit you and to assure you of my total implication and commitment to ensure your release,” Balla told the crowd of detainees that had literally engulfed him inside the Kndengui Prison.

                Before leaving the Prison Balla handed food items, bathing soaps, water, toothpaste and an undisclosed amount to money to the detainees.

                During his two-day stay in Yaounde, AgborBalla also paid a courtesy visit to Justice Ayah Paul Abine, who was freed from jail by the same Presidential pardon that freed Balla and 54 others. During his brief exchange with the retired Supreme Court Judge, Balla told him he had come to find out how he was doing, especially as he was told that his health had deteriorated greatly during his period in jail.

                Ayah told Balla that he was gradually picking up and that he was following his treatment religiously. Before leaving Ayah, Balla promised to come back but said this time it would be a more formal meeting. Ayak thanked him for coming and advised him to be careful as he moves around, warning him that with the present state of affairs “no one can tell what can happen.”

                Yet, the Yaounde trip also afforded AgborBalla the opportunity to meet and thank the lawyers who defended him courageously and worked tirelessly to secure his release. In this connection, Balla met with Barrister Ben Muna, who was lead counsel for their defense, and who is still leading the defense of Mancho and 37 others. Bala and Muna had a busy and fruitful working day together, we learnt.

                Then the Consortium leader met successively with BatonnierAkereMuna, MaitreAssira, MaitreSim and several others who were also in their defence team.

                At his Hotel in down town Yaounde, Balla was virtually the scene of all action as people walked up to him to greet and encourage him. Some told him how they castigated the government for arresting him and his colleagues, noting that thanks to the Consortium a constitutional revision is now inevitable in Cameroon.

                In his usual level-headed and calm disposition, Balla appreciated the encouragements from his admirers.

                Yet Balla has not made an official pronouncement in public ever since he left the Kondengui Prison a week ago. His supporters say they are anxious to know his plans for a way forward.