By David Atangana
A court in Yaounde has passed a ruling committing Ernest Obama and Vision 4 television to present evidence of allegations made against Ayah Foundation, a non-governmental humanitarian organization in the country.
Ernest Obama who created his own TV channel and now works with Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), had made allegations during television debates that the Ayah Foundation, a humanitarian outfit was supplying weapons to armed separatist Ambazonia fighters in the Anglophone regions.
Obama at the time was working for Vision 4 television, a private pro-government Media outfit airing from Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. Vision 4 is owned by businessman, Amougou Belinga who is currently being detained for his involvement in the murder of Martinez Zogo.
Genesis
The Ayah Foundation dragged Ernest Obama and Vision 4 to court for defamation — compelling the accused to show proof of their claims.
After several court battles and appeals, the center Regional Court of Appeal granted the request of the Ayah Foundation committing the accused to prove their allegations.
In a ruling delivered Thursday, July 28, 2023, the court sent the case to the lower court competent to hear the case for a full hearing.
The Yaounde court of First Instance had earlier ruled that Ernest Obama and Vision had a case to answer in the defamation suit.
In May 2020, Ayah Ayah Abine, head of the Ayah Foundation was called for questioning at the Judicial Police headquarters in Yaounde. This Summons came three months after he was questioned at the National Gendarmerie headquarters for allegedly financing terrorism following, orders from the Presidency of the republic.
Logo of the Ayah Foundation
The ruling of the lower court was contested by the defendants on grounds of competence – a challenge quashed by the appeal court
A source from Ayah Foundation described the ruling as the second victory in the case that has dragged on for years in court.
“The Ayah Foundation has just recorded its second Victory over Ernest Obama and Amougou Belinga in the Mfoundi court of Appel Yaoundé, moments ago.,” an inside source told MMI adding that”The said court just confirmed the decision of the lower court that ruled in favor of the Ayah Foundation, demanding Amougou Belinga’s Media houses and Ernest Obama to present proof of their accusations. The case now returns to the lower court for hearing.”
In 2020, MMI gathered, “Ernest Obama and Amougou Belinga’s Media houses accused the Ayah Foundation of being the main buyer and supplier of arms to Amba boys.”
The Foundation according to information gathered, “immediately seized the courts thereafter demanding damages for defamation, which now stands at 8 billion FCFA.”
Reports say the humanitarian organization ” is equally pressing that Pastor Success Nkongo and Njume Franklin, the initiators of this falsehood, be brought in as witnesses for the accused parties.”
