The lawyer defending the Cameroonian journalist, who reports for
Radio France International RFI, in the Hausa Language, has declared that he was
almost assassinated in Yaounde, March 27.
BARRISTER TCHOUNGANG : I AM FORTUNATE! |
Barrister Charles Tchoungang told the Yaounde Military Court,
March 28, that he could not explain why there were attempts at taking away his life.
He added that he is yet to find his personal belongings.
Few minutes after the court session started, Barrister
Tchoungang requested for permission and declared:
“I was almost assassinated yesterday (March 27) evening. I
arrived in Yaounde and moved as usual to Hotel Njeuga Palace. I was given room
407 at the reception. In the lift which was to take me to my room, I was attacked
by three individuals.
AHMED : WHERE DID I GO WRONG? |
I felt I was injected. The following day I woke up naked
and found myself in room 240. I am yet to find my personal belongings; my phones
and my car keys. I was drugged and searched. I am sure my assailants were
making attempts at stealing documents in connection with the case of my client,’”
Tchoungang said.
Security forces are said to have opened up investigations. It is
reported that investigators are due to be watching the Closed Circuit Television,
CCTV footage of the hotel to try to identify suspects.
Barrister Tchoungang is defending one of the Hausa language correspondents
for RFI, arrested on June 30 2015. The journalist, Ahmed Abba has been charged
with complicity to terrorism and for not denouncing same.
MINISTER ATANGA NJI : LEAVE THE PRESS ALONE |
Abba's lawyers had earlier picked holes with his incommunicado detention. They questioned why he was not allowed to meet his lawyers, family members of medical doctor.
Abba’s case was adjourned to April 25 2016.
The failed alleged assassination attempt on the lawyer of the RFI
correspondent came barely weeks after one of the Minister Delegates at the
Presidency, Paul Atanga Nji reportedly threatened to kill a journalist and
publisher of Emergence Newspaper, MAGNUS BIAGA.
The journalist said his ‘crime’ is for reporting critically
about First Lady Chantal Biya. Minister
Atanga Nji is quoted as saying even if he kills the journalist, nothing would
happen to happen to him(Atanga Nji). The
threats took place at the offices of communication Minister Issa Tchiroma and in
his presence. Tchiroma has not offered a word or grant a press
conference about the incident as many might have expected.
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