The Fako High Court has postponed the hearing of the case against CMTV broadcaster to May 28, 2020.
Samuel Wazizi, Buea based TV presenter has not been seen for close to 290 days since his arrest.
With the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the whereabout of Samuel Wazizi, Journalists, Trade Unions and Associations have been mounting pressure on the powers that be to throw more light on the affair.
The defense team of the pidgin TV broadcaster has filed a new Habeas Corpus request at the Fako High Court in Buea for his unconditional release.
Colleagues of the Journalists were present at the High Court Thursday May 14, 2020 as the defense team tabled the request. Amongst them was the President of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, (CJA – Cameroon) who is also Vice-President of CJA – Africa, Chief Foanyi Nkemayang Paul.
To him, the incommunicado detention of Wazizi for close to 10 months on mere allegations is a sign that there is no press freedom in Cameroon.
“We can not sit down and watch our colleague… either he is alive of death, let the police and military produce him” he told reporters shortly after the Habeas Corpus request.
The first request was turned down with reasons that it was wrongly presented.
During the last hearing, the court said Journalist used the wrong method by inviting the third party(Commonwealth Journalists Association).
Samuel Wazizi was arrested some ten (10) months ago by the police and has since then been detained by the military on charges of collaborating with seperatist fighters in the NW/SW regions.
The TV broadcaster had vehemently denied the claims.
“I was arrested by the Muea Police Commander because of a critical report aired over our TV network” the reporter explained last year, days after his arrest telling his colleagues and lagal team that he was innocent of the charges on him.
Days after his arrest, Samuel Wazizi was moved to the military base in Buea town and since then, neither his lawyers nor his colleagues not to talk of family members have seen him.
While commemorating this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the President of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ), Jude Viban, urged the President Paul Biya to release all Journalists arbitrary detained in the country.
By introducing another Habeas Corpus request, the defense team wants to find find out whether or not, their client is still alive.
