Detained journalist, WAWA Jackson NFOR misses out on Biya’s pardon

The high court of Donga Mantung seated at Nkambe in the North West region has for one year five months denied to render justice for Bamenda -based journalist, Wawa Jackson Nfor.

The case has been pending before the court since May last year. He is being tried for publishing successionist information.

The Bamenda based journalist was arrested without a warrant in Nkambe on May 15, 2018 by elements of the gendarmerie brigade in Nkambe.

At the time of arrest, he was returning to Bamenda from a private visit in his native Tabenken village.

He would later be held incommunicado in a torture facility in Nkambe.

Following pressure from the defense counsel, Barrister Ngwang Shey he was presented before the state prosecutor three days after.

He was charged for publishing secessionist information and threat of life (all trumped up charges).

The threat to life charge was later dropped by the examining magistrate, justice Ogrey Emmanuel and the defendant committed to stand trial for publishing secessionist information.

On the 30th of August 2018, journalist Wawa Jackson Nfor was arraigned before the High court Of Donga Mantung.

He pleaded not guilty upon arraignment. State prosecutor ,Mbah Elvis said they were not ready for want of witnesses. The case fell in deep waters since then. A bail application filed by the defense counsel, Barrister Ngwang Shey was outrightly turned down by the presiding judge justice Bup Stanley.

He has appeared in court for more than thirty times now. The case didn’t proceed until May 2019. On the 9 of May 2019 the case fully resumed. In the absence of witnesses the prosecutor brought in the judicial police who effected the illegal to testify.

Defense lawyer Barrister Ngwang Shey filed a petition urging the court to declare the case null and void. In a more than one hour submission he cited pertinent provisions of the criminal procedure code violated by the investigator. He however challenged the court to choose between the defendant whose rights have been violated or the violator.

After listening to the arguments advanced by defense counsel with contention from the state prosecutor; the presiding judge demanded a reasonable time for the judgment to be passed. In about four sessions the judge keeps saying he is still working on the judgment.

In June 2019 he went on leave and has hitherto not come back. As to when the case will resume is a mystery. Wawa Jackson Nfor is a journalist based in Bamenda headquarters of the north west region of cameroon. He had worked with Baturi Fm-nkambe; Abakwa Fm Radio Bamenda.

Before arrest he had left Abakwa Fm Radio Bamenda for Freelance practice. He is under pre detention trial at the Nkambe principal prison for seventeen months and counting.

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