After MMI report: Human rights lawyer demands autopsy on UB student who died in police custody

By Tata Mbunwe

Human rights advocate, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla, has asked for the police to collaborate in getting an autopsy done on the body of Ngule Linus Fonteh, a university student who died in detention on Wednesday.

This follows an exclusive report MMI published on Saturday detailing the arbitrarily arrest, detention and suspicious death of Linus Fonteh in police detention.

MMI also reported how the police were attempting to manipulate the narrative and cover up the situation.

This Monday morning, the president of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy for Africa, Agbor Balla, said an independent medical expert should conduct an autopsy on the young man’s body to confirm or refute allegations of torture.

“We, therefore, call for an independent medical expert to undertake an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death of Ngule Linus,” he wrote on Monday morning.

“We call on SEMIL to fully cooperate and provide all the necessary support to ensure a seamless process. The representatives of the family of the deceased student should be involved at all stages of the said autopsy,” he furthered.

He also called for the police to hand over Linus’ friend, Mboh Giress, who is still in their keeping, to competent authorities for proper investigations and legal counsel.

Based on MMI investigations, Linus and Gires were arrested on Wednesday, March 15, by the military security police known by the French acronym SEMIL (Securite Militaire).

Linus Fonteh died hours after being taken into custody and his body was deposited at the Buea Regional Hospital mortuary.

One of his relatives told MMI he was called on Thursday morning and informed that his brother had died during a military-separatist gun battle.

The police later changed the narrative when he arrived in Buea to see things for himself. They told him Linus died at the hospital after passing out during police interrogations.

The two students of the University of Buea are being accused of working with separatists to plant bombs in Buea.

Linus’ older brother and family representative said he was disheartened by his brother’s death and the allegations now levied against him are unbelievable.

Mimi Mefo Info