Result of an investigation into the Olembe Stadium stampede ordered by the Confederation of African Football, CAF is expected latest, Friday, January 28.
However, the challenge is far from over as CAF may be getting into hotter waters. A coalition of lawyers has called on the football governing body to take full responsibility for the eight deaths recorded and 40 persons injured.
In a pre-action/ litigation notice on the death of eight persons at the stadium, the lawyers led by Barrister Edward Lyonga of the Legend Law Offices, Buea, said they were writing in the capacity of Human Rights Advocates.
The incident, they stated, is due to the gross negligence of the CAF organization.
“Sir, CAF through its President granted a press briefing on the 25th to address the unfortunate incident and instead of assuming full responsibility of the unfortunate incident, nicodemously shifted responsibility to the local organizing committee COCAN,” they wrote to CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe.
“We wish to state that we find the above statement of the CAF President out of place as the local Organizing Committee is under the control of CAF. In fact, CAF is the organizer of this competition and we find it embarrassing for CAF to refuse responsibility of the death of football fans who came to watch the match,” they went on.
Accusing CAF of being responsible for the unfortunate incident, they went on to request that a hefty indemnity of one million US Dollars be paid to the victims.
They warned: “should CAF fail, refuse and neglect to respond to this pre-Action / litigation notice, we shall be left with no option than to seize the appropriate court of law and claim damages”.
The right to life, they added, remains “… sacrosanct and secret in line with the preamble of the Cameroon constitution and The African Charter of Human and People’s Rights and must be protected”.
Prior to the lawyers’ call out, many had applauded the promptness of response of CAF to the incident, as compared to local Cameroonian authorities.
Others however had expressed fears that CAF’s investigation is just to save face and would hardly see anyone take the blame for the incident.
(C) Mimi Mefo Info
AFCON2021 stampede: Lawyers demand 1 million US Dollars from CAF on behalf of victims
