Since information about the alleged death of the Buea based TV broadcaster, Samuel Wazizi was aired by Equinoxe Television and on various Social Media platforms, Journalists, Journalists trade unions, lawyers and family of the TV caster have not been at ease.
Many continue to question the veracity of the declaration of death, giving that the TV station backed up the declaration with unofficial military claims.
The lawyers of Samuel Abuwe, who spoke to Equinoxe Television hours before the report was broadcast cannot independently confirm or deny claims that he is dead or alive.
Even the family of the pidgin TV broadcaster, is still to come to terms with the declaration.
News Upfront talked to one of the lawyers of Samuel Wazizi, barrister Edward Lyongha E. and sought to know from him if truly, their client is dead. His reactions were obvious;
“I do not base my arguments on rumours, ‘hear-say’, tv or social media information…..to the best of my knowledge, there is no official statement from competent bodies attesting that our client is dead…”
Barrister Edward Lyongha E. went on to place a nuance.
“…But with what we read online, and judging from the development of events since he was arrested last year, held incommunicado for over 300 days, one is tempted to believe that Samuel Wazizi is no more”
The legal mind told News Upfront that to them, the truth will be known on June 9, 2020 at the Fako High Court during the final judgement on the Habeas Corpus request filed.
The legal team wants him in court dead or alive.
It is the same request from family and most Journalists trade unions who are now strategizing on new move to seek justice for Wazizi no matter the present situation.
The national syndicate of Cameroon Journalists, SNJC, and the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, Camasej have been very instrumental in the affair.
A statement from both Organizations reads;
“CAMASEJ can now confirm that our colleague Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe aka Wazizi is dead. He died at the military hospital in Yaounde after succumbing to torture. CAMASEJ and SNJC will issue a plan of action later today. Journalists on your marks, #JusticeForWazizi”
The Wazizi Affair
It all started in August 2019, when the Buea based TV broadcaster Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe aka Samuel Wazizi was summoned to the Muea Police Station in the SW region.
Upon arriving there, he was questioned on his involvement in the Anglophone crisis and alleged collaboration with some seperatist fighters.
It should be noted that by then, some of the fighter had erected their camp on a farm land owned by the Journalist.
Samuel Wazizi reportedly denied the allegations but was held back in detention.
Media outlets like AreeyB.com that reported on the issue quoted the Muea Police Station to have refused to liberate him on grounds that the Administration of the region were interested in the affair.
Barrister Edward Lyongha E. who visited Samuel Wazizi at the police station told News Upfront that the Journalist was hijacked from the station by elements of the 21st Motorised Infantry Batallion (BIM) of the SW region on the eve of when the case was to be transferred to the Judicial Police Headquarters in Buea.
All attempts to meet with his client at the 21st BIM turned futile on grounds that lawyers are not allowed inside the Motorised Infantry Battallion.
Reports have it that by law, the 21st Motorised Infantry Battallion is not a detention facility, neither is it an Investigative unit, though for military exploitation purposes, individuals can be held there.
Since then, barrister Edward went on “no one, not us, not his colleagues, not even his family had set eyes on him…”
The first Habeas Corpus request filed at the Fako High Court was rejected but reintroduced by the legal team and the final judgement is coming up next week June 9.
The legal team want him first to appear in court as the law says, and then be liberated for arbitrary arrest and detention.
It would definitely put an end to the present speculations on the affair.
