Nganyu Thomas Tangem has been sick for over five months in prison and was rushed to the Yaounde Central Hospital ten days ago.
News of his death was made public early Wednesday August 5, 2020 by the Head of the Communication Department of the Defense team of the Anglophone leaders, Barrister Amungwa Nicodemus Esq.
The legal mind in a post on social media wrote:
“The chairman of communication and media for the defense team of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and other southern cameroonian detainees
announces with deep regret the death of Tangem Thomas at ten minutes to six am this August 05th, 2020 at the Yaounde Central Hospital. Pa Tom died in chains to the satisfaction of the prison and justice administrators. The corpse is about now being kept in the mortuary of the Central Hospital Yaounde”
News Upfront gathered that the detainee, arrested since 2018 was still awaiting trial on allegations of him being a supporter to the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West regions.
According to his lawyer, he took ill about five months ago but all attempts to rush him for proper medical attention fell on deaf ears, given that prison authorities did not grant him permission.
To his lawyers, one of whom is Barrister Amungwa Nicodemus Esq, it is gross violation of section 123 of the country’s Criminal Procedure Code, including other national and international texts.
The family of Nganyu Thomas Tangem on their part had decried the fact that he was chained to his sick bed despite his deteriorating situation.
Reports say it was a security measure as he was still in detention.
His death according to critics has raised the issue of detention conditions in Cameroon’s prisons with a need for the powers that be to raise standards.
(Photo Credit: MMI)
